Demon's Bargain

Demon’s Bargain Amanda Steiger All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2008 Amanda Steiger

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ISBN: 978-1-60521-111-4

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Editor: Maryam Salim

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Demon’s Bargain Amanda Steiger Ella is desperate. A vicious dragon stalks her people, killing and devouring. The only man strong enough to defeat it is Vaz, the half-demon outcast -- banished long ago for his tainted blood. Ella has always been told that demons are cruel and dangerous, but she swallows her fear, journeys alone to Vaz’s castle, and asks him to save her people. He agrees on one condition: that she spends a night in his bed. The demon’s huge, powerful form and penetrating ruby eyes send tremors of unexpected desire through Ella’s body. Despite her trepidation, she agrees to his bargain, and soon learns just how potent a demon’s touch can be.

Chapter One A human approached his castle from the east. Vaz felt the light of its soul, a small, fragile spark in the darkness. Opening his eyes, he rose from his chair. A fire crackled in the hearth, but did little to illuminate the vast, stone hall. Neither the dark nor the cold bothered him. He was accustomed to both. It had been some time since he’d seen another person. Most humans feared him and gave his castle a wide berth. Who was this lone traveler approaching his home? Vaz reached out with his mind. His thoughts swept outward, like a vast web of invisible tendrils, touching everything within a mile of his castle. He felt the mind of a sea-hawk as it wheeled over the foamy, gray water, its keen eyes searching for the silver flash of a fish. Looking through the hawk’s eyes, he scanned the shore. There. Vaz saw a small, human form, walking near the water’s edge, head bent against the wind. Young and female. He sampled her mind as his consciousness flowed into her, tasting fear and determination. Vaz felt the chill of wet clothes against her skin, the hunger gnawing her belly, the ache of fatigue in her muscles. He looked through her eyes and saw his own castle, dark against the gray sky. Vaz withdrew back into his own mind and stood, thinking. For nearly twenty years, he had lived here alone, feeling nothing save the old ache of bitterness and the empty indifference growing like a cancer in his soul. Now, he felt a rare flicker of curiosity, like a tiny candle flame in the dark catacombs of his heart. Who was she, this girl?

*** Cold wind howled, stinging Ella’s cheeks and eyes. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, tucked her numb fingers under her arms, and raised her head.

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Ahead, atop a mound of rock at the ocean’s edge, stood the demon’s castle, a crumbling stone monolith. Dark, empty windows seemed to peer down at her like the eye sockets of a skull. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have said it was deserted. It looked cold and ancient, like a ruin. Waves crashed against the jagged rocks on the shore. Clouds of sea foam leapt into the air. A sea-hawk swooped down from the sky and its claws skimmed through the water. The bird rose into the air, a twisting silver fish speared in its talons. Ella’s arms tightened around herself. Even the landscape was cold and unforgiving. She wondered if the castle’s lord was just as ruthless. Ella stared at the sheer stone walls, the sharp-tipped towers, like jagged teeth piercing the sky. Her heart knocked against her chest. She didn’t want to go any nearer to that place, but what choice did she have? Ella squared her shoulders and approached the towering, weathered wooden doors. She raised a fist and knocked. A long moment of silence passed. Her heartbeat filled her ears like thunder as she knocked again, harder. “Hello? Lord Vaz? If you’re there, please, I need to speak with you.” Ella waited, holding her breath, and heard heavy footsteps from within the castle. She forced her trembling legs to stand their ground. The doors creaked open, and she took an involuntary step backward. A towering form stood in the doorway. He was enormous, broad of shoulder and chest, with long legs and thick, powerful arms. His black, silk shirt and matching trousers were snug enough to show the rolling hills and valleys of muscle. A silver-buckled belt gathered his shirt tight about his narrow waist. His skin was dark, not brown, but true, inky black, as if he’d been sculpted from solid ebony. His hair, in striking contrast, was a pale white-blond, like frosted ice. It spilled over his broad shoulders, thin and fine as silk, shining like metal. At the sight of her, his eyes narrowed, and her breath caught in her throat. She stared, like a rabbit pinned by the gaze of a hawk.

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His eyes were red, an intense, vivid red, like polished gemstones. Demon’s eyes. They stared into hers, and suddenly, she couldn’t speak. Her mouth moved, but no words left her throat. “Well?” he said at last, his voice low and smooth. A hint of sharp, white teeth showed between his lips when he spoke. Ella bowed her head and struggled to hold her voice steady as she spilled out the speech she had rehearsed in her head a dozen times. “Lord Vaz, hear me out. I beg you. My people are dying. A dragon stalks Mill Town. We’ve lost over twenty men, women, and children and have no defense against the beast. Please help us.” He shook his head. “Fools. They expect me to rush to their aid after they branded me an abomination and drove me out.” He glared at her. “Why should I help those who wish me dead?” “We can pay you.” Ella pulled a pouch from inside her cloak. The coins inside jingled and clinked as she held it out to him with both hands, head bowed. “And what use would I have for money?” “Then… you will do nothing?” A rippling growl rose from his throat. “Find another warrior. I want nothing to do with Mill Town or its people.” “Please.” Ella wet her lips and met his gaze. “There is no one else. You are our last hope.” He stared at her, his face unreadable. “Come inside.” Ella hesitated. His eyes narrowed. “Do you want to save your people?” She took a deep breath, lifting her chin. “Yes.” “Then come inside.” Slowly, she stepped through the open doors, into a large, dimly lit room. The walls and floor were stone, bare of rugs or tapestries. The only warmth and light came from a huge fire blazing in the hearth at the far end of the room.

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The doors slammed shut and Ella gave a start. Turning, she looked up at Vaz. There was no trace of mercy in his red eyes as he stared down at her. With his dark clothes and onyx skin, he blended in with the surrounding shadows, so he was only a hulking shape outlined by the dull glow of firelight. “You are afraid of me.” There was no point in denying it so she nodded. “Yet you came here to ask my help, even knowing I might kill you.” He shook his head. “Cowards, sending a slip of a girl to do their dirty work.” “They didn’t send me. I chose to come. The others were convinced you wouldn’t help us, that asking you would be a waste of time, but I had to take the chance. You alone can help us. I don’t expect you to do it for nothing. If you don’t want money, there must be something else you want, something we can give you.” He raised one eyebrow. His brows were blond, like his hair, pale arches, like crescent moons against his night-black skin. “You are prepared to offer me anything?” “Anything I can give.” “And what if I want you?” Her heartbeat quickened. The bag of coins slipped from her trembling hands and spilled on the floor. “Me, my Lord?” “Yes. Suppose I asked for your body in exchange for my help?” Ella steeled herself. “I’ll do whatever it takes to save my people.” “Are you sure?” Ella swallowed, mouth dry. Demons’ desires were dark and twisted. Human women were playthings to them, to be used and discarded, or so she’d always been told. But what choice did she have? Whatever he did to her, it couldn’t be worse than standing by and watching the people of her village killed one by one. “Yes. If you agree to kill the dragon, I will offer myself as payment.” “You show more courage than most of your kind.” Her cheeks flushed. “I’m terrified, if you want to know the truth.” “Yet here you stand.” He raised one hand to her face, fingertips grazing her cheek very lightly. The touch sent small, electric tingles skittering up her spine, and she

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shivered, confused at her own reaction. Vaz gripped her chin between a thumb and forefinger and lifted her face. His eyes captured hers, held hers. “What is your name, girl?” She wet her lips. “Ella.” “How old are you?” “Nineteen.” “You were but a child when I was cast out, then. I suppose you don’t remember.” “I remember very little.” His eyes stared into hers. They were completely inscrutable, those orbs of solid, lustrous ruby red, without iris or pupil. They glowed with their own bloody light, like fire within stained glass. Ella felt a tickle in the center of her head and tensed. She knew Vaz was inside her mind, examining her thoughts, her memories. The secrets of her heart lay bare before those emotionless, blood-red eyes. She wanted to look away, but his gaze held her. Vaz’s thumb brushed her lower lip. She tensed, startled by the gesture. “Why not just leave the village?” “I can’t abandon my people.” His thumb moved slowly back and forth, stroking her full lower lip. “Why do you care? What have they done for you?” “It doesn’t matter. They’re my people. How could I do nothing while they suffer?” His face was like the face of a statue, rigid, emotionless. Firelight and shadows danced over his high, proud cheekbones, his strong, aquiline nose. His thumb still rested against her lower lip, a warm pressure. “Very well. This is my offer. Share my bed with me tonight. It has been some time since I have tasted the pleasures of a woman’s body. For this night, you will belong to me, body and mind. I will know the secrets of your soul and your flesh. Give me this, and I will save your people.”

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“And after tonight, you will give me my freedom?” He nodded. “One night. That is all I want.” He leaned closer, his eyes burning into hers. “Do you agree to my terms?” Ella took a deep breath. All he asked was one night. Surely, she could survive one night in a demon’s bed. “I agree.” He smiled, and the expression sent chills through her. It was a smile of cold triumph, utterly ruthless. “Very well.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Take off your cloak.” Ella tensed. Fingers trembling, she undid the clasp of her cloak and let it slip off. He took it from her and draped it over a nearby chair, then turned to face her. His gaze moved up and down the length of her body. Ella wore only a simple, white dress beneath her cloak. Her stiff nipples poked through the thin cotton. She told herself it was just the chill in the air. “You aren’t dressed for travel.” “I’ve never traveled before,” she murmured. “I don’t know how one is supposed to dress for it.” “Generally, one wears something a little sturdier. That garment is almost transparent. Not that I’m complaining.” Vaz cupped her breast through the dress. Ella gasped. The heat of his hand burned into her skin, even through the thin cloth. She watched, breathless, as his thumb circled her tingling nipple. One long, dark finger trailed over the pearl buttons of her dress. He undid the first button, then the second. “You aren’t wearing anything beneath this, are you?” “No.” She’d dressed in a hurry, not wanting her parents to overhear her, before sneaking out of the house. She wished she’d at least taken the time to put on a brassiere. He undid a third button, a fourth. Her dress fell open, exposing her breasts. Goose bumps rose on the smooth, white flesh, and her areolas puckered around her rosy nipples. “Your tits are exquisite,” said Vaz. He cupped them and hoisted them, weighing them in his hands. “So round and firm. And such nipples. Like little candies begging to be sucked. I wonder if they are as sensitive as they look. Are they?”

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Ella’s cheeks burned. She lowered her gaze. He placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face. “I said, are your nipples as sensitive as they look?” His voice was velvet-soft, iron-hard. Ella swallowed. It seemed he was determined to make this as embarrassing for her as possible. “I-I don’t know, my Lord.” “You don’t know?” He raised his eyebrows, then chuckled. His fangs flashed as he smiled. “You are very pretty, Ella. You must be aware of that. That silky skin, those plump, pink lips… the village boys must be panting after you like dogs. Are you telling me that you have never lain with a man?” “You know I haven’t.” Ella’s hands clenched into fists, nails pressing into her palms. “You can see into my mind, can’t you? You know I’m a virgin.” True, she’d let a boy put his hand beneath her shirt once, but that was all. And those fumbling caresses, stolen hastily in a dark barn on the night of Midsummer Feast, had not prepared her for this in the least. She felt Vaz’s eyes on her, and her cheeks grew hotter. “It is unusual to be a virgin at nineteen, is it not? Most village girls your age have already started a family. So why do you remain untouched?” “I… I haven’t found the person I want to spend my life with. That’s all. I’ve seen too many girls marry the first boy who called them pretty, and now they’re tired and bitter, minding a litter of children while their husbands drink away their pay in the tavern. I vowed I wouldn’t give myself away so easily.” “Hmm.” His hands remained on her breasts, warm and firm. “So no one has ever done this to you?” Vaz rolled one aching nipple between his thumb and forefinger, then tugged it. The sensation produced a strange, sharp, burning mixture of pleasure and discomfort. A small sound escaped her throat. “I asked you a question.” “No,” she said breathlessly. “Not… not like this.” Her eyelids fluttered and slipped shut. She panted as his thumb toyed with her sensitive nipple. Damn him! Had he cast some spell on her? “If all you want is my body, then just take me and get it over with,” she said through clenched teeth. “Why do you torment me like this?”

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“This is torment?” Ella didn’t answer. Vaz gave her nipple one last, gentle tug. Then he undid the last few buttons of her dress, exposing her stomach, then the white, cotton panties: the only thing that stood between him and her untouched sex. Ella drew in her breath sharply as he cupped her mound through her underwear. Heat rushed to her core, pooled between her thighs. The lips plumped and wetness tickled her folds. Vaz’s hand slipped beneath the waist of her panties. Two hot, thick fingers delved between her lips and pressed into her folds. His palm grazed her clit. Ella’s teeth pressed into her lower lip. The feel of his hard, calloused fingertips against her private flesh was shockingly intimate, shockingly exciting. Her legs trembled as his fingers explored her. One finger brushed the barrier of her virginity, and she tensed. “Ah,” he breathed. “You are untouched. A rare treasure.” His hand withdrew. Her heart pounded as he pulled her panties down, exposing her aroused pussy to the cool air. Vaz stared at it, his eyes unreadable. Her clit poked out like a pink button. His thumb stroked the hood. “Untouched and very responsive.” Fresh wetness tickled her folds. Her body had never responded so fiercely to anything, but she had the impression this was not even intended as foreplay. He was simply testing her body, judging her, like a merchant judging a piece of silk or a jewel. Her jaw tightened, and she lifted her chin, determined to bear it with as much dignity as possible. Of course, it was hard to be dignified when she was flushed and trembling with desire. He pulled up her panties, covering her. Ella exhaled, relieved and disappointed. She could still feel the imprint of those large, warm fingertips on her aching flesh, as if they’d left a brand. Vaz folded his arms and stared at her, his expression inscrutable. “You have come a long way. You must be tired and hungry.” “I… well, yes. But --”

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“Did you think I would throw you into bed without first allowing you the chance to rest and eat?” He chuckled. A glint of sharp, white teeth showed between his smiling lips. “No. I want you refreshed when you come to my bed.” He took her hand and led her to a chair in front of a blazing hearth. “Sit and rest. I shall prepare a meal and a hot bath. You may cover yourself. Though if you wish to come to the table like that, I would not complain.” Ella flushed and hastily buttoned up her dress.

Chapter Two Shortly after, he led her to a vast dining hall where a long, oaken table ran from one end of the room to the other. “Sit,” Vaz said, and pulled out a chair. The table was lined with dozens of stout-legged chairs. Once, perhaps, this room had been used to entertain guests with lavish feasts. Now, an eerie quiet lay over the room. Torches burned on the walls, and two lonely candles stood on the table, flickering. Ella looked down at her plate. There was a loaf of dark bread, a wedge of smooth, white cheese, and beside it, a bowl of dark stew. A rich, meaty aroma drifted from the bowl. Ella had been wondering, just moments ago, if she’d even be able to eat ­ - her stomach was so tight, she didn’t think she could keep anything down -- but when she smelled the stew, her appetite roared to life. She lifted a steaming spoonful to her lips, blew on it, and sipped. “It’s good,” she said, surprised. “What is it?” “Spiced rabbit stew.” She ate another few bites of stew, then tried the cheese. It was sweet and soft, with a slight nutty flavor. Ella’s stomach rumbled for more. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. Ella looked up at Vaz who sat in the chair across from hers, chin resting on his folded hands, watching her. “Aren’t you going to eat?” “I do not eat.” “You can’t have food at all?” “I can, but I do not need it, so I rarely eat. Only mortals need food.” “Why do you have all this food, then? Somehow, I can’t imagine you keep your pantry stocked just in case a guest decides to drop in.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. “No. I conjured this myself.” Her jaw dropped. “You can conjure food out of thin air?”

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“It takes quite a bit of energy, but yes. You do not know very much about demon-kind, do you?” Warmth rose into her cheeks. “The elders don’t teach us much about demons.” “No. I imagine they do not.” Ella sopped up the last bit of soup with a crust of bread, swallowed the last mouthful, and leaned back, one hand resting on her stomach. “That was delicious.” Vaz rose from his chair and circled the table to stand behind her. He touched her shoulder. “Your bath is ready.” She followed him up a spiral staircase and down a torch-lit hall, into a room with a huge, bronze tub in the middle. Plumes of steam rose from the water. She wondered where the hot water had come from. Had he conjured it with his magic, as he had the food? Were there any limits to his power? She waited for him to leave the room, but he remained standing, watching her. “What are you waiting for? Undress.” “You’re going to watch me?” “By the end of the night, I will know every inch of your body by sight and touch. What sense is there in being modest, now?” He strode toward her. “If you are not going to take off your clothes, I will undress you myself.” “No.” She took a step backward. “I can do it.” He caught her by the shoulders. “I rather like the idea of undressing you.” “Very well.” Ella lowered her gaze as Vaz undid the buttons of her dress. The dress slipped to the floor and pooled around her feet. He hooked a finger into the waistband of her panties and slid them down. She stood, exposed, her face hot, her nipples tight and hard in the steamy air. His hands cupped her breasts then slid slowly down her body, over the curves of her hips. “Look at me,” he said quietly. Meeting his gaze somehow felt even more intimate than exposing her body to him. There was hunger in those eyes, not just sexual hunger, but something more, a

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deep, aching need. Or was she imagining it? “Your eyes are beautiful,” he said. “Like black pearls.” She lowered her gaze again, feeling suddenly shy. “They’re nothing special. Most of my people have dark eyes.” “But none so large, so deep and lustrous.” “Thank you,” she murmured. She hadn’t expected such pretty words out of a demon’s mouth. It disoriented her. “Your eyes could hypnotize any man. Of course, I am not truly a man. I am something more… and less.” His hands slid over her bare arms. “You are shivering. Why don’t you get in the bath?” Ella stepped into the tub and submerged herself. Heat penetrated the chill in her bones. She leaned back with a soft sigh. Vaz rubbed a cake of soap between his hands, then spread the lather over her shoulders and breasts. His fingers molded her nipples to hard, aching points. “Stand.” Steamy air washed over her as she stood. Large, firm hands rubbed the lather over her back, into the cleft of her ass. One hand slipped between her thighs and spread the lather over her pussy. Her sensitive flesh tingled beneath his touch, and she trembled as a wave of heat rolled through her. Vaz’s fingers pushed between her lips and worked the thick suds into her folds. Ella watched, entranced by the movement of his hand, touching her so boldly. “Now, sit. I need to wash your hair.” Vaz did as he instructed, tipping her head back, submerging all but her nose and mouth. When she lifted her head, rivulets ran from her wet hair, over her shoulders and back. His hands lifted her hair, stroked it. His clawed fingers slid through the wet strands. Then he soaped his hands and worked the lather into her hair. His touch was gentle, skilled, and she found herself growing more and more relaxed as his fingertips massaged her scalp.

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Vaz dipped a tin cup in the tub and poured hot water over her hair. The water ran down the back of her neck, a soothing, pleasant sensation. Once he’d rinsed the last suds from her hair, he produced a silver comb, seemingly from thin air. With his other hand, he lifted her hair and ran the comb through it. He worked slowly, patiently, smoothing out the tangles. Ella couldn’t remember the last time anyone had combed her hair. She could almost forget her fear, forget her situation. She could almost pretend that Vaz cared about her. He was being so very gentle. Vaz set the comb aside, left the room and returned with a fluffy, white towel draped over one arm. “Step out of the tub.” She rose and stepped, dripping wet, onto the stone floor. Goose bumps rose on her skin. Vaz carefully dried her breasts and stomach, her back and buttocks, her legs and arms. The towel was soft and thick, and as it brushed against her aroused sex, a shiver ran through her, and her heartbeat quickened. Vaz ran his fingers through her wet hair, then stepped back. She touched her hair. It was dry, soft and fluffy, spilling in dark waves around her shoulders. More demon magic? “Now, come with me.” She looked around, arms crossed over her breasts. “Where is my dress?” “You will not need clothes tonight.” “It’s freezing.” He smiled. That smile, knowing and very male, went through her like a bolt of lightning, melting things deep inside her. “You will be warm soon enough.”

Chapter Three Ella followed him, heart galloping. Vaz led her to a large bedroom. Unlike the rest of the dilapidated castle, this room was richly furnished. A thick, scarlet rug, fringed with gold tassels, covered the floor. The wood-paneled walls gleamed. A glossy, mahogany dresser stood against one wall, a huge, canopied bed against the other. Carved roses and vines decorated the bedposts, and the satin sheets shone a deep crimson, like Vaz’s eyes. Uncertain, she sat on the edge of the bed. The scarlet sheets were as soft as they looked. “What now?” “Now, you fulfill your half of the bargain.” Vaz’s hand brushed her cheek. His thumb traced her mouth. He leaned down, and his warm breath tickled her lips, before his mouth touched hers. The kiss was unexpectedly soft, almost tender. A tremor ran through her. His tongue circled her lips, then slid past them and stroked the inside of her mouth. A tiny moan escaped her throat. Vaz nibbled her lower lip, sucked it like a piece of candy. His tongue delved into her mouth again, plundered it, claimed it. His long hair trailed across her breasts. The sensation sent shivers down her spine. She wanted to wrap that long, silken hair around her fingers, but she didn’t quite dare. To touch him, to reciprocate, would be to admit that a part of her wanted this. Vaz pulled back, leaving her flushed and panting, her lips swollen with kisses. She touched them, her head spinning. She’d been kissed by a few of the village boys, but those kisses had been little more than a quick press of flesh on flesh. This… this was something else entirely. Vaz smiled, and she wondered if he was still inside her head, observing her every thought. How naïve, how childish she must seem to him.

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“Naïve? Perhaps, though that is nothing to be ashamed of. Childish? Not at all.” “So you are eavesdropping on my thoughts,” she murmured. “That isn’t polite, you know.” He chuckled, a deep, velvet sound. “What do you expect? I am a demon.” His eyes flashed with a wicked delight. He pushed her to her back, and straddled her. She gasped. Her pulse beat fast and hard in her throat. His mouth lowered toward her left breast, then stopped just an inch over her nipple. His warm breath caressed the taut, aching flesh. He laved the pebble-hard nub with his tongue, then his hot, wet mouth engulfed it and sucked. Ella gasped and arched upward, off the bed. A tiny moan escaped her throat as she felt the press of his sharp teeth against her flesh, though there was no pain. He raised his head, then turned his attention to the other breast. Vaz traced her puckered areole with one long finger. Then his skilled mouth closed over her nipple. He sucked and tugged, lapped and nibbled, his mouth mercilessly stimulating those sensitive nubs until she writhed on the sheets. “Your breasts are as sweet as they look.” His eyes burned softly in the dim light. One hand slid down over her stomach, between her thighs. One finger traced the moist furrow between her labia. “You’re soaked,” he whispered, his voice deep and rough. He brought the finger to his mouth and licked it. “Wet and luscious. Like a ripe peach.” “Vaz…” Her voice trembled. His broad, rough palm grazed her aroused flesh. “Relax. I will not hurt you.” He smiled. Sharp teeth gleamed between his dark lips. “Believe me, by the time I fuck you, you will be begging for it.” Heat rushed to her cheeks and she glared at him. “I most certainly will not. What do you take me for? A whore?” “Not at all. You are a lovely young woman with a woman’s desires. There is nothing shameful about that.” His palm pressed harder against her pussy. “Why so many humans resist pleasure is a mystery to me. Why fight something that feels so

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good? Do you think that everything pleasurable is evil? Is that why you have never let anyone touch this?” A calloused fingertip stroked her clit. Her fingers dug into the sheets. She panted for breath, sweat trickling down her sides as he toyed with that sensitive little bud. “Vaz!” she gasped. The corner of his mouth lifted in an arrogant smirk. He rose and undid the first few buttons of his shirt, revealing his smooth, dark chest. Ella watched, entranced, as he dropped his shirt to the floor. Without his shirt, he looked even more like a statue made flesh. The hard muscles of his shoulders and chest seemed carved from black rock. His flat, hard stomach rippled with muscle. Vaz crouched, unlaced his boots and cast them aside. He straightened, his glowing, red eyes focused on her, and then long fingers unbuckled his belt. His trousers slid down with a rustle of cloth. He wore no undergarments. Ella gasped aloud at the sight of his cock, massive and rigid, jutting out from between his thick, powerful thighs. Like the rest of him, the jet-black organ seemed to be carved from stone. Thick, raised veins ran along its length. A glistening, clear bead of fluid clung to the tip of its bulbous head. His balls hung between his thighs like heavy, ripe fruit, round and perfectly smooth. He had no hair on his body. He took a step closer. The drop of clear fluid swelled and dripped from his cockslit. Ella stared, mouth dry, caught halfway between fascination and fear. Good gods. Would that thing even fit inside her? Vaz’s expression softened. He touched her cheek, the softest brush of fingertips. “I promised I would not hurt you.” Ella bit her lower lip. She’d been told that a woman’s first time always hurt, that there would be blood and pain when her maidenhead broke. “You are forgetting I am a demon and have powers mortals can only dream of. I will make sure that you feel only pleasure.”

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“Control my mind, you mean. Bewitch me so that I scream for more no matter what you do to me. You could probably make me moan with pleasure while you cut my heart out, if you wished.” “I will not bewitch you. Everything you feel tonight will be real. I will only use my powers to take away any pain or discomfort you might feel.” “That’s still mind control.” He raised a brow. “You would prefer to feel the pain?” She hesitated. “This is my first time. This isn’t how I would have chosen to have it happen, but still… I came to you willingly, as a sacrifice for my people. I’m giving my body to you and I want it to be real. All of it.” His eyes searched hers. “You are an unusual human.” “I am?” He chuckled. That rumbling laugh wrapped around her like something tangible. “Yes.” His gaze held hers as he slid one long, thick finger into her wetness. She tensed. His claws were so sharp, he could easily hurt her if he wasn’t careful, but there was no pain. His finger moved in and out, and deep within her, something melted sweetly in a rush of heat. He lowered his head. His long hair brushed across her thigh. His tongue laved her throbbing clit and his finger thrust into her as he licked and sucked that aching bud. She writhed beneath his mouth, gasping. “Oh, gods!” His finger slid, wet and glistening, from her pussy. His fangs glinted in a smile. Vaz leaned over her and lightly bit one hard, aching nipple. His sharp, cool teeth pressed into her flesh, but didn’t penetrate. “You have not yet begun to taste what I can do. I have used only my hands and mouth on you. I have not yet let you feel my magic.” He held up one forefinger and a wisp of silver light rose from the tip and danced above it like a flame. She watched, eyes wide, as he lowered the finger toward her pussy. It stopped just a hairsbreadth from her clit, now so excruciatingly sensitive, it seemed the slightest touch would send her spinning over the edge. The wisp of soft

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light touched her clit, circled around it and caressed it, like a silver flame. Her toes curled and her body arched upward. Vaz’s large hands encircled her wrists and pinned her hands to the bed. He hovered over her, his red eyes burning into hers as his magic danced over her flesh. Her hips arched again, and her breasts heaved as she panted for breath. The silver light spread outward from her clit, warm and tingling. Glowing sparks, like silver fireflies, danced over her flesh, around her jutting nipples, over her thighs and belly. Ella felt his magic touching her everywhere at once, like rose petals brushing her skin, like a thousand tiny, warm tongues licking her. Vaz lowered his body toward hers and rubbed his huge, hard cock against her thigh. The smooth, bulbous head pressed against the lips of her pussy, and she tensed, but he didn’t try to penetrate her yet. Instead, he slid the head of his cock up and down the length of her wet slit, teasing it. He lowered his mouth to her neck and his lips brushed her racing pulse. The magic continued its dance over her flesh, hot and cool at the same time, painless flames consuming her. It was maddening. It was exquisite. She had never dreamed such torturous, sweet pleasure could exist. “Please!” she gasped. “Oh, Vaz, please!” She didn’t know if she was begging him to stop, or to keep going. The head of his cock nudged her clit. Then he withdrew and she cried out in protest. “Patience,” he said. “Do you really want it all to be over so quickly?” She panted. Just as she felt she couldn’t bear it anymore -- she had to come, or explode -- the silver light of his magic faded, leaving her aroused and unfulfilled. Vaz smiled, walked across the room, and opened the top drawer of his dresser. He pulled out a bundle of something long, slinky and red, and her eyes widened when she realized what it was. Rope. Loops of soft, shiny, velvet rope. Ella’s heart slammed against her ribs. “What are you doing?” “I am going to bind you.” He took her slender wrist in one hand. His thumb caressed her racing pulse. Then he separated a short length of rope from the bundle. “Wait a minute.”

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He looked at her. “Is something wrong?”

“Is it really necessary?”

“Necessary? Of course not. I just want to.” He grinned. “Perhaps you will find it

pleasurable as well.” Ella had promised him her body for one night, with no conditions. She wondered, if she told him no, would he stop? She found, strangely, that she didn’t want him to stop. “Very well,” she said. She tried to hold her voice calm and steady, but it trembled slightly… with fear or anticipation, she couldn’t say. “If you wish.” The soft, velvet rope encircled her wrist, pulled tight around it. He tied an expert knot, then bound the other end of the rope to the bedpost. She tugged, but the knots were secure. He bound her other wrist to the opposite bedpost, then turned his attention to her ankles and bound them as well, so she was spread-eagled on the bed, everything exposed. Vaz walked slowly around the bed, inspecting her from every angle. He stood at the foot of the bed and placed his huge hands on her thighs. His thumbs parted her labia and opened her pussy wide for his inspection. She could almost feel his gaze on that secret flesh, like something tangible. Then he withdrew his hands. She writhed on the bed. Her hands curled into tight fists, but that was all she could do with the ropes securing her in place. Her pussy ached for his touch. Why did he just stand there, staring at her? “Vaz… please…” He stared into her eyes. “Do you want me to touch you?”

Ella averted her gaze, cheeks hot. “I…”

“Say it,” he whispered.

Another whimper squeezed itself from her throat.

“Say it, Ella.”

“Yes,” she gasped. “Yes, please, yes!”

His thumb covered her pulsing clit and pressed. Waves of pleasure rolled

outward from that single point and through her whole body. Ella gasped and moaned. Her body strained against the ropes. Vaz withdrew his hand, and she went limp,

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panting. A soft whimper escaped her lips. She wriggled on the bed, her pussy soaked and throbbing with need. She looked up. His huge, dark form hovered over her, and there was a smile on his lips. “I told you that you would beg for my touch.” A flush crept into her cheeks as she tugged at her restraints. “Untie me.” “We are not finished yet. It has only begun.” He crawled onto the bed. Her eyes widened. “Vaz…” “Shhh.” He kissed her lips softly, then trailed kisses down her throat, over her collarbone, over the slope of her right breast. His mouth closed around one pebble-hard nipple and his hot tongue lapped the tight nub while he massaged her other breast with one hand, gently squeezing and kneading the soft flesh. The blunt head of his cock pressed against the opening of her pussy. Panic flashed through her. Gods, he was huge! How would that thing ever fit inside her? “Please,” she whispered, caught between fear and desperate need. Her breath came in small, rapid pants. “Do not be afraid.” Slowly, he pushed forward. She felt the head of his cock enter her. She bit her lower lip as another inch of him slid into her body. A tiny twinge of pain made her wince as her pussy stretched and blossomed open to accommodate the girth of his cock. She panted, balanced on the borderline between pleasure and pain, and remembered that she’d asked him not to take the pain away with his magic. He was respecting her wishes. At last, he sheathed himself up to his balls in her body. The head of his cock butted up against something inside her, and she gasped. Her hands clenched into fists. Vaz’s crimson eyes burned into hers as he pulled back, slowly, until only the head of his cock remained inside her… then he rocked forward. The hard, hot shaft pressed deep into the soft wetness between her thighs, filling her again. This time, the pain was dimmer, the pleasure more intense. A soft moan escaped from her throat as her body stretched open to receive him once again.

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“Gods,” Vaz whispered. He bowed his head, and his long hair brushed her full, aching breasts. His broad chest heaved. “So tight…” He pulled back again and thrust into her. She cried out, but not in pain. Her body arched upward to meet his thrust. His hips moved back and forth, a quickening rhythm. His cock pumped in and out of her, thrusting deep into her body. He growled, a deep, rumbling, animal sound. Waves of heat rolled through her. She felt climax approaching, like a great balloon of pleasure growing and swelling inside her. Vaz thrust into her again and the pleasure spiked. She screamed as she rode the wave of her orgasm. Stars burst across her vision and she flopped down to the bed, gasping for breath. For a moment, she almost lost consciousness. Her vision vanished in a wash of black as she lay, dazed, floating in bliss. Vaz thrust again, then again. At the last moment, he jerked out of her and came with a low grunt. Hot, sticky come splattered across her stomach and thighs. His huge, dark cock glistened with her juices. She stared at it. Gods. Had that massive thing really been inside her? He panted for breath as his erection faded. Vaz’s large hand caressed her face, then cupped one heaving breast. “You are drenched with sweat,” he said. “So are you.” He chuckled. “I think we could both use another bath.” Ella nodded, though she felt no urgency to get up. She felt strangely relaxed, her whole body limp and pliant, her mind enveloped in a warm, drowsy bliss. There was a pleasant ache in her pussy. She felt as though she could snuggle up and purr like a cat in a sunbeam. Could it be that she’d enjoyed herself? Vaz stood. Even at rest, his cock was huge. It lay curled, snake-like, against his thigh. He undid her restraints, and Ella sat up, rubbing her wrists, though they weren’t truly sore, just a bit stiff. She watched as he walked over to the dresser, filled a silver cup from a pitcher and carried the cup to the bedside. He handed it to her.

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She took a swig of cool, lemon-flavored water. “Thank you.” She couldn’t seem to meet his eyes, feeling oddly shy. “I was afraid you were going to leave me tied to that bed all night.” “Don’t think we are done yet.” He placed one long finger beneath her chin and tipped her face upward. He was smiling. “The night is not over -- far from it.” A chill raced up her spine. What else could he possibly have in store for her?

Chapter Four The tub was already filled with fresh, steaming hot water. Rose petals floated on the surface. Vaz held her hand as she stepped into the tub and sank into the hot water with a sigh. Vaz’s huge, muscular body slid into the tub beside her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. With one palm, he cupped her chin and lifted her face to his. He kissed her ravenously, devoured her lips, sucked and nibbled them until they were swollen and plump. One hand reached down to cup her ass. His huge cock pressed against her thigh. She felt it tighten, growing hard and hot again. His hand moved between her thighs and rubbed against her pussy. Two fingers slid inside her and stretched her open. She gasped as the hot water flowed into her body. Despite the heat of the bath, her nipples hardened to stiff, aching points. She clutched at his arms, panting as his large fingers moved inside her. She’d never felt anything like this. “I need to know,” she panted. “Vaz… please tell me, is this some demon magic?” He froze. “What?” “I need to know if what I feel is real, or if you’ve cast some spell on me. Please. The truth.” “I promised you I would not bewitch you.” She felt the vibrations of that deep voice in his chest. “It is not magic. But if it is easier for you to believe that, go ahead.” His voice had turned hard and cold. Her brow furrowed. “Vaz? What’s wrong?” He smiled, a thin, tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. His fingers withdrew from her body. “You find it difficult to accept that my touch excites you. You think you should be repulsed. You are afraid of your own reaction to me, because of what I am.”

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She tensed and pulled away. “It has nothing to do with what you are.” His eyes darkened. “Really?” “Yes!” “Then why does your heart recoil from the idea that you are attracted to me?” His voice deepened and roughened, until he was almost growling. “Why do you accuse me of using magic to inflame your desires? It’s because I am a demon. You do not want to believe you could feel anything but disgust or horror toward a creature like me.” Ella clenched her fists. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’ve never slept with a man before tonight. I always thought I would give my virginity to my husband on our wedding night. I always thought sex meant something to me, yet now, I find myself burning for the touch of a stranger… a man I barely know, who demanded my body in exchange for saving the lives of my friends and family!” Vaz stared at her, his expression unreadable. She knew she should stop. She shouldn’t anger him, shouldn’t jeopardize the agreement she’d made. But she couldn’t stop. “You can read my mind, can’t you? So how is it that you don’t understand? I’d feel the same if you were human. You just want me to hate you for your nature, so you can confirm all your ideas about humankind. You’re so consumed with bitterness and anger, you’ve become just as prejudiced as the humans who cast you out.” She took a deep breath, fists still clenched at her sides. Now she had done it. Now he would throw her out, and her village would be destroyed by the dragon, its last hope gone, all because of one angry outburst. “I don’t hate you for being a demon,” she said quietly. “I don’t hate you at all.” “Yet you fear my power.” “Of course I do! I’d have to be mad not to. You can strip me of my secrets with a glance, steal my willpower… and you seem to have no qualms about eavesdropping on my thoughts. If you don’t want me to be afraid of you, perhaps you should show a bit more respect and restraint.”

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“You dare to lecture me on how I should treat you, after your people drove me out of their village with torches and pitchforks, and threatened to burn me alive if I ever returned?” “We humans are not all the same. It’s wrong to treat us as if we were… just as it was wrong for them to cast you out because of your nature. Just as not all demons are evil, not all humans are ignorant and foolish.” She looked into his eyes. Her jaw tightened. “Do you hate me, because of what they did to you? Is that why you demanded I share your bed? So you could have one of your enemies at your mercy? Do you want me to feel defiled?” For a moment, he didn’t speak, just stared at her with those cold, unreadable eyes. Fear gripped her heart, but she stood her ground, chin lifted to meet his gaze. Then an icy smile spread across his face. “It would enrage them, would it not, to know that a demon has one of their women? Yes… I wanted to take your virginity as my revenge against them. But that is not the only reason. I asked you to come to my bed because the moment I laid eyes on you, I wanted to possess you. I wanted you at my mercy. Not for revenge, not for any other reason. I just wanted you for myself. Simple, animal desire.” She stared at him, her lips trembling. She wanted to slap the smile from his face. He’d used her shamelessly. How could she have believed for a moment that he was anything more than a heartless monster? And yet… His finger traced her lower lip. “I feel so many emotions in you right now. Rage, indignation, fear, desire, and…” His eyes narrowed. “Pity? Is that a trace of pity I see in your heart?” “You’re so filled with anger. With pain. You can’t see what it’s done to you. You’re so… so alone.” He stared at her for a long moment. Then he laughed, a deep, flowing laugh. The sound seemed to slide over her skin like dark velvet. A chill rippled through her. “You have no idea. You speak as if you know what I went through. You cannot know.” He

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was smiling, but his eyes were hard, flat, and empty. “They took something from me, something more precious than my life. When I lost that, I lost whatever traces of good remained in me. You are right. I am a twisted, depraved, heartless monster… because they made me one.” “No,” she said. A tear ran down her cheek. “You have a choice. There’s still good in you.” His eyes darkened. He stared at her for a long moment in silence. “Out of the tub.” She turned and stepped out of the tub. Cool air washed over her and she shivered. Vaz emerged from the water, huge and dripping. He flicked a hand, and a gust of wind whirled around her, drying her. “Return to the bedroom.” She sighed and nodded. Her heart thudded against her ribs.

*** How dare she? How dare she look at him with pity in those eyes, after what her people had done? She didn’t have the right. In some far off part of his mind, he knew the thought was irrational, and so was his anger toward her. But he didn’t care. His heart burned with rage. Dark memories welled up in him. He saw a woman laying motionless on the floor, her throat slashed, her eyes empty. Grief and rage ripped through his heart. He shoved the memory back into the depths of his mind. Vaz shut the bedroom door and turned to face her. She stood before him, delicate and pale, her hair so dark against her creamy skin, her liquid black eyes wide, fringed by those long, inky-black lashes. His eyes moved over her full, lush tits, her stiff pink nipples, her smooth, white thighs, the small, dark triangle of hair between them. Those downy curls couldn’t hide the shape of the plump lips beneath. His anger mingled with his lust and merged into a single, hot, tormenting flame, until he didn’t know where one feeling left off and the other began. He wanted to throw her onto the bed, to wrench her thighs apart and impale her tight little cunt with his cock. He wanted to fuck her

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mercilessly, to pound into her body until she cried out, releasing his anger and need into her. Ella squared her shoulders. “What now?” It took all his willpower, but gradually, Vaz forced himself to let go of the terrible rage. His muscles relaxed as the anger receded, calmed. It simmered in the back of his mind, no longer a consuming flame, but a dull ember. Her eyes watched him, large and wary. “I think we will need the restraints again,” he said. “Very well.” She tried to appear calm, but he could see her trembling, feel her anxiety. She lay down on the bed, on her back. “No. I want you facing the other way, this time. On your knees.” She hesitated, then rolled over and tucked her knees beneath her. He bound her wrists to the bedposts, forced her knees wide apart, hoisted her round, white bottom into the air and spread her thighs, leaving her pussy exposed. Vaz stepped back and stood, arms crossed over his chest. He listened to her rapid breathing. Then he stepped forward and reached between her legs. With one large, clawed finger, he traced the delicate furrow between her open thighs. She was fresh and clean from the bath. He found her clit and stroked it. She let out a small, soft moan. He bowed his head, until his breath stirred the fine, dark hair on her outer labia. His tongue delved into her and Ella gasped. He growled, deep in his throat, and pressed his mouth against her plump, hot pussy, hard enough to let her feel the sharp teeth behind his lips. She writhed against him, gasping, moaning. His thumb rubbed her clit as his mouth feasted on her wetness. His tongue pushed into her, flicked back and forth. He withdrew, brushed his thumbs along her outer lips, then pulled them wide open. Her pussy gaped, dark pink folds slick and glistening. Vaz thrust his tongue into her again, attacking her wet flesh with long, hard strokes as he thumbed the stiff, pink nub of her clit. He knew it was too much for her inexperienced body but he didn’t stop,

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didn’t let up. He savored each moan, each cry, held her on the edge between pleasure and pain. “Do you want me to fuck you?” he said, his voice a raspy whisper. She whimpered and shifted. “Please…” “Please what? Say it.” “Please, I…” Her voice trembled, caught in her throat. Ella moaned, a small, high pitched sound. Hot desire rushed to his cock. “I need you inside me.” Vaz plunged one thick finger into her tight, juicy core and felt her walls clench. He thrust his finger in and out, listening to her soft, needy little moans. She pushed back against him. He slid another finger into her wet pussy. His cock throbbed, stiff and aching with need. As he fucked her with his fingers, his gaze focused on the puckered, pink hole, nestled like a rosebud between the smooth, white cheeks of her ass. Vaz withdrew his hand, took a glass vial from the dresser, opened the vial and poured the thick, scented oil onto his fingers. “Vaz, what…”

He spread the oil over her rim.

“Oh! That’s cold!”

“It’ll warm up in a moment.” He pressed a lubed finger against her asshole and

felt the ring of muscle give way. She gasped. He felt her shock, felt her discomfort melt into pleasure. He pushed his finger a little deeper, burying it up to the first knuckle. His other hand squeezed her breast, tugged her stiff nipple, then moved between her thighs to palm her mound. “What are you doing?” she said, her voice soft and breathless.

“I told you I would explore your body fully. I have not explored this yet.”

“You mean…”

“I will go slowly.”

She looked over her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted, her eyes

wide. “I can’t do this, Vaz. This isn’t…” “Is not what?” “I… I just can’t.”

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“Tell me to stop, then.” Her tongue crept out to wet her lips. She wriggled. His finger was still lodged in her clenched hole, between her soft cheeks. “If I do, you won’t save my people.” “I made my promise. I will keep it. Tell me to stop if you want me to stop. If my touch is so vile to you, I won’t force you to endure it any longer. If you truly despise me, all you have to do is say the word, and this will be over. I will let you go and still save your people. You will never have to look at me again. You feel the truth in my words. You know I will keep my promise. But don’t lie to yourself, or to me.” He stared into her wide eyes, his jaw clenched. His pulse thundered in his veins. “Do you want this?” She let out a tiny sound, half moan, half sob. She lowered her long lashes, hiding her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered. The word sent a jolt of heat to his cock. It strained upward, so hard and engorged it seemed he’d explode at any moment. He ached to plunge into her, but held back. “Look at me, Ella. I want to look into your soul.” She raised her eyes, and he stared into those black, shining pools. He let himself fall into them, like a swimmer plunging into a lake. Blackness surrounded him, enveloped him. “Open your mind to me. Open it.” He delivered the command with a flick of psychic power, like a velvet whip. Her mind blossomed open, and he slipped into the private darkness of her thoughts. With a deft, delicate mental touch, he soothed her fear, calmed her uncertainties. The muscles of her tight asshole relaxed around his finger. A tiny moan rose from her throat. She was breathing heavily. He rubbed his palm against her wet pussy as he pushed another finger into her ass. Ella’s pale skin was flushed, damp with sweat. She writhed, panting, as he carefully stretched her tight hole. He withdrew, poured fresh oil onto his fingers and spread it over his cock, then positioned himself over her.

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Vaz felt her body trembling beneath him as the head of his cock pressed between the soft, round globes of her ass. He reached around to grip one full, soft breast, felt the flesh bulge between his fingers as his dark, marble-hard cock slid between those smooth, white cheeks, into the hot glove of her body. She flared open, stretching as he pressed himself into her. Ella gasped and pushed back against him. He growled deep in his throat as he sheathed his cock in her. Her body gripped him tight. A shudder of pleasure ran through him. It was all he could do not to pound and pound into her until he came, but he forced himself to hold back, to move slowly as he pulled back and pressed into her again. His palm ground against her plump mound as he thrust his cock into her ass again and again. She whimpered and writhed against him, beneath him, her slender, pale form slick and glistening with sweat. “Vaz!” she cried. He pressed the heel of his hand harder against her clit. She squealed as a gush of wet heat announced her climax. He plunged into her one last time and came, releasing his seed into the hot depths of her body. Vaz went limp, panting. Once he’d caught his breath, he pulled out of her. Then, without a word, he undid her restraints, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her tight against his chest. “Vaz…” She gazed up at him. In the dim light, her eyes were pools of shadow. “That was…” “Shh.” Vaz smoothed her hair. “Sleep.” He reinforced the command with a gentle push at her mind. She tried to resist, but she was no match for his magic. Her eyelids sank shut. Vaz watched her sleep. With the backs of his fingers, he stroked one smooth, soft cheek. He watched the gentle rise and fall of her breasts. With the all-consuming flame of his lust sated, his rage calmed, he realized what he’d done. Shame tore through his heart and burned in his throat, a hard, bitter lump. This girl was an innocent. She’d done nothing to deserve his anger. Yet when he’d first seen her, so pure and clean, he had burned to defile her with every wicked, carnal act he knew. He’d used her as his vessel of revenge, but he hadn’t thought about

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the repercussions for her. Human men expected their brides to be virgins. Now, she would be unacceptable in their eyes. All he had thought about was his revenge, his pain. Vaz averted his gaze, too ashamed to even look at her another moment. More bitter than his shame was the knowledge that the villagers had been right about him, after all. He was a monster.

Chapter Five Ella woke, and for a moment she wondered why she wasn’t in her own bed, then the memories returned with a jolt. The red silk sheets were rumpled beneath her. Her lower body ached. I slept with a demon last night. Heat rushed to her cheeks at the memory of what he’d done to her. What she’d let him do. She sat up and looked around, but Vaz was nowhere to be seen. “Vaz?” Ella swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. Beside the bed stood a chair, and on it, folded clothes: A tunic, a pair of trousers, and a set of tall boots. Travel clothes. She dressed quickly, pulled on the pair of sturdy leather boots, and laced them up, then tried the door. It was unlocked. Ella walked down the torch-lit corridor, then down the stairs, to the entrance hall. Vaz stood in front of the blazing hearth, dressed in a simple, doeskin tunic and trousers, a sword buckled to his hip. His long, pale golden hair spilled down his back, shining in the firelight. He looked up, and his face was expressionless, his eyes empty. “Good morning.” Ella bit her lower lip. “You weren’t there when I woke.” “I thought you would be eager to return home, so I made myself ready. We can leave immediately, if you wish.” “I…” She fell silent and looked away. She felt an odd reluctance to leave, but she knew she should get back to her village as soon as possible. Her family would be worried about her. “Yes, you’re right. We should leave now.” He nodded, turned, and strode toward the main doors. Ella followed him outside, to the rocky shore. The waves crashed, and clouds of glittering spray burst through the air. The lonely cry of a seagull rang out.

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Vaz stood motionless, facing the west. Ella waited, puzzled. Then she heard hoof beats on the sand. Shielding her eyes from the sun with one hand, she peered into the distance and saw a black horse galloping toward them. It slowed to a trot and halted at Vaz’s side. “Oh,” whispered Ella, “what a beautiful horse.” The mare was huge, with muscles rippling beneath her glossy, ebony coat. The mare’s eyes were a strange, pale shade of silver-gray, alert and intelligent. She had never seen a horse with such eyes. Vaz slipped a simple bridle over the mare’s head.

“She’s yours?”

He nodded.

“You just let her run free?”

“I have no need to keep her penned in a stall. She knows when I need her,” he

said, and in one swift movement, he mounted. He looked down at Ella and offered a hand. She took it, and he pulled her onto the mare’s broad back. Ella had ridden bareback before a few times, though only in the quiet, soft hours before sunrise, when the rest of her family was asleep and only the faintest, peach-gold light touched the eastern sky. Maidens were expected to ride sidesaddle, to protect their virginity, which was dangerous at anything faster than a gentle trot. But Ella loved the thrill of sitting atop a galloping horse, feeling the surge of powerful muscles beneath her, her own body moving in rhythm, as if she and the horse were one creature. She’d ridden astride before, when no one was watching. She had never ridden behind a man, however. “How am I supposed to hold on?”

“Wrap your arms around my waist.”

She hesitated, then slipped her arms around his narrow, firm waist.

With the lightest tap of Vaz’s heel, the mare tossed her head and broke into a

canter. Ella gasped at the sudden, lurching movement and tightened her grip. Heat flooded her cheeks. Her breasts were squashed against Vaz’s broad back, but there was nothing much she could do about that. If she loosened her grip, she’d slide off.

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The mare cantered along the shore for awhile, then veered away from the coastline, up the gentle slope of a hill and into the forest. Ella clung tight to Vaz’s huge body. She could feel the steady thump of his heart, the rhythm of his breathing, the shift of iron-hard muscles in his back. They rode in silence for nearly an hour. At last, they reached the top of a hill. The village lay below, a scattering of houses and shops, tiny as toys from this distance. Ella stared at the familiar thatched roofs, the stone chimneys, the wisps of gray smoke rising into the sky. A herd of fat sheep grazed in a nearby pasture. Several of the houses, she saw, had been destroyed, the roofs ripped off, the stones burnt and blackened. Ella’s chest tightened. The dragon had returned while she was gone. “Perhaps you had better dismount here and return on foot.” Vaz’s voice was cool, unreadable. “It would not do if your parents saw you riding with a demon.” “But… you said you would stay and help us. That was our bargain.” “I will. I will remain here and watch the village until the dragon returns. When it does, I will kill it. You have my word. Now, go. Your people are no doubt wondering where you have been.” Ella dismounted. She looked up at Vaz’s impassive, mask-like face, so still his features may as well have been carved from stone. His eyes -- those solid, ruby disks, so deep yet so inscrutable -- stared down at her. Ella wanted to say something to him, anything, but the words would not come. “Goodbye, Vaz,” she said at last. He nodded. Ella turned and walked down the hill, toward the village.

*** A group of men milled around one of the burned houses, carrying bundles of fresh rushes in from the fields to replace the demolished roof. Ella spotted her father among them. “Father!” she called. He turned and ran toward her, pulled her into a fierce hug, then held her at arm’s length and shook her so hard her teeth clattered together. “Ella, by the gods, girl!

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I thought we’d lost you! How dare you go running off without a word to your mother and I!” Other villagers approached. “Is that Ella Miller?” someone called. “It is Ella!” “She’s returned!” “Everyone here has been worried sick about you,” said her father. “Where have you been?” “I have been to see the demon, Vaz.” Gasps arose from the villagers. Her father’s face darkened. “You what?” “Please, Father, just listen to me. He’s going to help us! He promised to kill the dragon.” Her father shook his head, astonishment in his eyes. “How in bloody blazes did you get him to agree to that?” A flush rose into her cheeks. “I… I talked to him. That’s all. I reasoned with him.” He studied her face, frowning. “Do you expect me to believe that?” He gripped her shoulders. “Ella, what did you give him? What did you promise him?” “Nothing. I swear.” “You’re lying to me, and I’ll have the truth out of you one way or another. But for now, we’d best let your mother know you’re alive and well.” The tension eased out of Ella’s shoulders. “Yes, Father.”

Chapter Six Ella’s mother ladled a thick, rabbit stew into her daughter’s bowl. “Tell us again what happened,” she said. Ella lifted a spoonful of stew to her lips and blew away the steam. “I walked to the castle where Vaz lives and begged him to come and help our people.” Her father frowned. “And he said yes. Just like that.” “Is that really so hard to believe? Maybe he’s hoping to show the people of our village that demons aren’t so bad, after all.” Her father’s frown deepened. “No. If he really is planning to help us, he must have some other purpose, something he expects to gain.” Ella looked from her father to her mother, confused and hurt. Her parents had been relieved to see her alive, but still, since she’d returned, they had treated her with a strange, cold suspicion. Did they suspect? What would they do if they learned the truth? “Ella,” her mother said quietly, “what aren’t you telling us?” Ella stared down at her stew, her hands trembling. “Why does everyone assume the worst about him? What has he done, that everyone hates him so much?” “He killed his own mother.” Ella tensed. “He had a mother? But I thought demons --” “He was only half-demon,” said her mother. “His father was a true demon, an immortal. His mother was human. When he was first born, many of the villagers wanted to kill him or leave him in the forest. We all knew, being half-demon, he had evil in his blood. But his mother pleaded for him, said she would raise him to be good… so the villagers agreed to let him live. When he was thirteen, he killed her, and he was driven out. That was how he repaid her for all her kindness to him.”

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Ella’s mind whirled. “Are you sure? Are you sure it was Vaz who killed her?” “Of course we were sure,” snapped her father. “He was found standing over the body, his hands covered in her blood.” “No,” whispered Ella. “What’s wrong, child?” said her mother. “You’re pale.” “I just… I don’t believe…” She trailed off. It couldn’t be true. Or could it? What did she know about Vaz, really? “Enough,” said her father. He stood and planted his hands on the table. “I think it’s time you told us what went on between you and that creature.” “I…” Ella stopped. “What’s that sound?” “What sound?” She looked out the window, into the dark. In the distance, she heard a heavy crunch, then another, and another, each one closer than the last. “It’s coming from the forest. It sounds like…” Her father listened, brow furrowed. Then his eyes widened. “By the gods,” he muttered, “not again. Not so soon.” Ella gasped as realization sank in. The dragon had returned. “Everyone out of the house, to the Lodge,” said her father, hurrying them toward the door. “But --” “No arguments!” He pulled them outside. “We’ll be safer there. The walls are thick and the roof is solid oak. That beast could rip off our roof like paper, or haven’t you seen what it did to the Tanners’ home?” Ella looked around and saw other villagers hurrying from their houses in small clusters, whispering together, eyes wide with fear. Someone climbed onto the platform in the village square and struck the alarm bell. The sound rang out through the night, and still more people burst from their houses, flocking toward the huge, stone building known as the Lodge.

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Two men flung the door open and the villagers crowded inside. They pressed close together, silent, their eyes huge. Ella’s heart pounded as she stood between her parents, staring through a narrow window. A tall, broad-shouldered form stepped out of the darkness, and she gasped. It was Vaz. There was no mistaking the gleam of moonlight on his white-blond hair. “Look!” someone shouted. “That demon! What is he doing here?” “Maybe the dragon will kill him,” said a man. “Or maybe he’ll kill the dragon.” “Either way, we’ll be rid of one of them. Good riddance!” Rumbles of agreement rose from the crowd. Ella’s hands tightened into fists. How could they be so cold, so cruel? She heard heavy footsteps outside, moving closer. A deep, rumbling growl echoed through the silence. Then an enormous, dark shape emerged from behind the inn. Thick scales, like dull, black metal, armored its body. Sharp, hooked claws equipped each massive foot and a long tail lashed behind its body. A white goat thrashed in its jaws, bawling. The dragon’s teeth crunched down. Blood dripped from its mouth, and the goat went limp. The dragon’s massive head flicked to one side, tossing the goat into the air. It struck the side of a house and slid down, leaving a bloody smear on the wall. Ella felt sick. The monster killed for fun. She knew it could crush a man between its jaws just as easily. She looked at Vaz, who stood calm and motionless, and fear squeezed her heart. Had she been fooling herself, to think he had a chance? The dragon was as tall as a small house, muscular and stocky, its back lined with sharp spikes, from the base of its skull to its tail-tip. The dragon’s eyes burned like red embers, its foaming, blood-crusted mouth open to reveal teeth as large as daggers. Hot breath gusted out, steaming in the cool air. A long, red tongue licked blood from its lips, and a low growl trickled between its yellowed fangs. The dragon took a step toward Vaz. One foot came down on a picket fence, and wood crunched beneath its bloodcaked claws.

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Vaz faced the dragon, hands on his hips, face impassive. “I will give you one warning. Leave this village now, and never return.” The glowing eyes narrowed. “Why do you help these mortals?” Its voice was deep, rumbling, like thunder. “Humans are our enemy.” “My reasons are none of your concern. This is your last warning. Leave now or die.” The dragon tossed back its head and laughed. Then it looked down at Vaz, its mouth gaped, and a stream of fire shot out. Vaz leapt to one side and landed in a crouch. The gush of fire struck the spot he’d been standing an instant ago, blackening the ground. The dragon growled and swung a clawed forefoot at him, batting at him like a cat at a toy. Vaz leapt aside again, then sprang toward the dragon’s face. The great mouth opened, and fire glowed in the dark, red throat, but before it could belch out another stream of fire, Vaz landed on its face and wrapped his legs tight around the dragon’s jaws, locking them shut. The red eyes bulged with surprise as Vaz drew his sword and plunged it deep into one glowing eye. The dragon reared as its head flicked back and forth, trying to dislodge him, but he clung tight. Vaz’s blade pushed deeper into the eye, into the brain beneath. He ripped the blade out, and the eye with it. Blood poured from the dark socket. The huge body slumped to the ground, and the glow faded from its remaining eye. Vaz stood and walked away from the corpse. Huddled in the Lodge, the villagers were silent. Then they burst into cheers. The doors opened, and they poured out, shouting thanks, but Vaz took no notice. He didn’t even look at them as he walked away, toward the eastern border of the village. His dark form faded into the night. Ella pushed her way through the crowd, toward the door. Her father grabbed her arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

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Ella yanked her arm free and ran outside. “Vaz!” she called. “Vaz, wait!” She heard hoof beats retreating into the night, and caught a glimpse of Vaz on horseback, galloping toward the edge of the village. Ella ran to the small stable beside her house. Hastily, she slipped a bridle onto Maggie, her little dappled mare, led her outside, and mounted without bothering to saddle her first. She kicked Maggie twice, and the mare broke into a canter. Ella leaned forward, peering into the darkness. She could still see Vaz’s shape, retreating into the distance, and she felt a pang of despair. He was riding too fast. She would never catch him. She wondered for a moment why she wanted to so desperately, but there was no time to think. She gave Maggie another kick. “Vaz!” she cried out. “Vaz, stop!” Vaz reached the top of the hill, slowed the horse to a halt, and turned to face her. Ella rode to the hilltop, halted Maggie beside him, and looked straight into Vaz’s eyes. His face was impassive as ever. “Don’t go yet, please. You didn’t even give me the chance to thank you.” “I do not need any thanks. I am fulfilling my half of our bargain.”

“Still… I wanted to thank you.”

“Very well. Is that all?”

She paused. “Did you kill your mother?”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“I’m sorry. But I need to know the truth.”

“Do you think I killed her?” he asked, his voice cold.

Ella hesitated. “I don’t know. I just know what they told me. But I… I don’t want

to believe that you did it.” He looked away. For a long moment, he said nothing. “My mother was the only person I ever loved. The only one who was ever kind to me. I would have protected her with my last breath, had I been there… but I was not. I do not know who killed her. It could have been anyone. We were hated, both of us, me because of what I was, and she because she had given birth to me, as if she were somehow tainted by association.” His

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hands tightened on the reins. “When they found me weeping over the body, they accused me and drove me out. I do not think most of them really believed I had done it. It was just an excuse.” “Vaz,” Ella whispered. “Vaz, I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” Tears welled in her eyes, slid down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.” He stared at her with empty eyes, then looked away. When he spoke, his voice was soft, almost gentle. “There is nothing to be done about it now.” He turned his horse toward the forest. “Wait,” said Ella. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Let me come with you.” He was silent. “Please,” she said. “Why?” “Because I can’t stand to go back there, knowing what they did to you, knowing they still hate you and fear you, just because you were born different. I can’t be one of them anymore.” Another tear ran down her cheek. “Do you know what you are asking? If you come with me now, you can never return.” “I know.” His jaw tightened. “You should despise me,” he said, his voice flat and hoarse. “I dirtied you, took your innocence, destroyed your life for one night of selfish pleasure, and for my own petty revenge. When you came to me, I saw in your face the faces of those who had killed my mother and cast me out. I committed the same sin as my enemies, fell prey to the same blind prejudice. What I did to you was unforgivable.” “It wasn’t like that,” she said. “It wasn’t just revenge.” “How do you know? For that matter, how do you know that I am telling the truth about what happened? I would think you would believe your people over me.” “I believe my own heart,” she said quietly. “And I know in my heart that you aren’t evil, Vaz. As soon as I saw you, I… I was afraid of you, but I was captivated, as

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well, captivated by your strength, your touch, the way you could be so fierce and yet so gentle. You’re not like the villagers. You’re more alive, and when I’m with you, you make me feel more alive, like I can cast aside all my fears and soar free. You made me understand that pleasure isn’t a sin to be avoided, but a joy to be embraced. I think deep inside, I always knew I was discontent, that I wanted more, but until I met you, I never knew what that ‘more’ was.” His eyes stared into hers, searched hers. “What of your family?” “They already look at me like I’m a stranger. They don’t approve of what I did, that I went to you for help, even though you saved us all. I --” Her throat knotted up. She swallowed, hard. “I don’t think I can live there anymore. I always knew I would leave the village one day, anyway. I felt, somehow, that my destiny was elsewhere.” She squared her shoulders. “I want to go back with you, Vaz.” For a long moment, he was silent, looking at her with those unreadable eyes as he scrutinized her soul. She looked back, hiding nothing. She opened her heart to him, let him see all her feelings, her horror and sadness over what the villagers had done to him, her fear and uncertainty, her gratitude that he had saved them all, despite what they’d done, her powerful feelings for Vaz himself. “You are sure?” he said quietly. “I’m sure.” He stretched out a hand to her. She dismounted and took his hand. He pulled her onto his horse, then gave Ella’s mare a light swat on the rump. Maggie tossed her head, snorted and galloped back toward the village. Ella wrapped her arms around Vaz’s waist, heart thumping. She could scarcely believe what she was doing. It was madness, yet somehow, it felt right. Vaz turned his upper body to look into her eyes. His warm, firm lips molded themselves to hers. She closed her eyes. Her lips parted, and his hot, wet tongue delved inside. A shiver raced down her spine. Her heartbeat quickened. Heat rushed to her core and pooled between her thighs. When he finally pulled back, she was breathless. “So beautiful,” he whispered. His thumb traced her lower lip. “I did not believe I was

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capable of feeling anymore. You proved me wrong. I hardly know you, yet somehow, you have found your way into my heart.” His ruby eyes stared into hers. Desire flared in them, hot as flame. “Be warned. Once I have you, I will not let go. I intend to keep you by my side… and in my bed.” A flush rose into her cheeks. “I would have it no other way.” “Even after what I did to you? After I treated you with such cruelty?” “Cruelty?” She laughed breathlessly. “You introduced me to pleasures I never dreamed of. You made my body sing. Now that I’ve tasted your touch, I can’t go back.” “That is the cruelty,” he said quietly. “If you choose to be with me, you can never return to your people. Even if you return, you have been tainted forever in their eyes. I took you from them. I offered you no choice.” She shook her head. “I chose this, Vaz. I sought you out. I was prepared to make any sacrifice necessary. I just didn’t expect the sacrifice to be so sweet.” He looked at her, naked pain in his eyes. “I do not deserve you. You are too good. Too kind.” “This is what I want. There’s nothing for me back there.” She cast one final glance toward the village, then looked up at Vaz. Her arms tightened around his waist. “Let’s go home.”

Amanda Steiger Amanda Steiger has lived in the Midwest her whole life, though she enjoys regular visits to other galaxies and dimensions in her mind. She enjoys cold weather, daydreaming, supernatural romance, and anime. She lives with her family and one very spoiled little dog. You can contact her at [email protected].