Page 175 of Devil's Deal

He barks a short laugh. “Jaga, I’m not stupid. I know you have ways of terminating a pregnancy, which is why you’ll be watched around the clock. You will have servants and guards to protect you, and I will check on you regularly. You’ll belong to me from the moment you conceive. We’ll know for sure in a few days.”

“I don’t want to go to Slawa,” I say, my insides twisting with fear.

Woland pulls back, and we look at each other again. This time, his mask is off, and the look on his face is a strange mix of affection and exasperation.

“You will be safe there. Provided for. Haven’t you noticed there’s nothing for you here? Jaga, you were always meant to end up in Slawa and with me. In fact, let’s go now.”

I open my mouth to protest, but I can’t speak. The lights around us disappear, the world plunging into complete darkness, and there is a sense of movement, both fast velocity and being still, and then, we fall.

We land in fragrant, soft grass. Grasshoppers chirp around us. The night is brighter than back home, even without Woland’s lights. When I look up, trembling, I see the moon is so much bigger here, its light silver and pure. The stars look odd. They are all equally bright, sharp pinpricks of light dotting the sky in constellations I can’t name.

“Welcome home,” Woland murmurs, rolling us until I’m on top.

I brace my hands on his chest and raise myself as high as I can. His thorns still hold us together.

“You had no right,” I growl, straddling him to sit more comfortably. “I didn’t agree.”

He puts his arm under his head and watches me with a slow smile.

“I had every right. You belong to me. At last.”

I stare at his bare armpit, fantasizing about the knife I left back home. Even if it didn’t kill him, it would hurt if I stabbed him there. And if I angled it well enough, maybe I could get his heart.

“You’re having murderous thoughts,” he says, his free hand settling on my hip. His cock inside me swells, and I know he wants to fuck me again. “Let me apologize to you. Let’s make up. It will be good, you’ll see. I’ll treat you well.”

I laugh bitterly, looking up at the sky. Slawa. My plan didn’t exactly take that into account, and I have no idea what to do. I look around, noticing a house not far ahead. Behind me is a forest, the trees so much taller, so much bigger than back home. It’s scary and foreign. I wonder whether it wouldn’t be best to stay with him after all. At least until I get my bearings.

In the forest, I see a faint silvery glimmer in the undergrowth. The fern flower. Just like Woland said—not a rarity here.

“This is your house,” he says, pointing over his head.

I don’t see much, because the windows are unlit, but it is much larger than even the biggest cottage back home. Something nags at me, and I finally realize what.

“My house?” I ask slowly. “And you will check on me regularly—is that what you said?”

He shrugs. “Well, I can’t live with you. I’m not a safe person to be around. You cost me so much, I can’t let you get hurt.”

But all I hear is possession. He thinks he acquired me. He plans to put me aside so I don’t get scratched or spoiled. If he wants to see me, he will, but that will always be his choice. I don’t imagine he’ll give me the freedom to call on him.

My chest tears with pain when I realize this is who he is, who he’s always been. And to be fair, he warned me. He said this exact thing would happen—he would claim me and lose interest.

I’ll be relegated to this house, watched over by wardens disguised as my guards, and forced to birth a baby he doesn’t really want. Just like the pendant on my neck, the baby will be collateral. His way of keeping me on a leash.

It’s not what I want from life. Not by far.

“Don’t be sad, darling,” he says, cupping my face easily. “I’ll keep the war far away from you and our baby. And you will be safe. On that note, let me remove this. That mark had its uses in the mortal world, but here, it will set you apart. I’ll put it on a more intimate part of you one day. So you know who owns you but you’re not a target.”

He passes his thumb over my chin, making my skin tingle. I breathe with relief, because I hated that mark as much as I hate him. At least it’s gone now.

Woland caresses my face, looking at me seriously. I grit my teeth, reminding myself I can’t trust him.

“I’ll keep you immortal and young,” he whispers. “And since you wanted me to be faithful, I will promise you this. We’ll make up. I have you now.”

But I don’t answer. I’m too busy feeling into the energies swirling in my chest, potent and blazing. It hurt so much when the seal broke once he entered me, but now, that pain is gone. All I feel is feral, untamed magic swirling in my veins.

And it’s all mine. Not his.

The only fear I have is that I won’t be able to wield it, but then, I practiced and commanded his magic well enough when I had it. This should be the same. I just need to direct my intentions with purpose.

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