Page 9 of Dark Captivation

This entire conversation he appeared so measured and reasonable that I almost forgot who I was talking to. Regardless of any past friendship he and I may have had, Malek was the farthest thing from a peace loving ruler. He was king to the millions of demons who live on Earth, but that wasn’t enough for him. For the last two years he’s been expanding his territory, forcing hostile takeovers against shifter-packs and mage occupied cities.

He occupied more and more territories, forcing the local population to pledge fealty to him, stopping just short of declaring a full blown war against them. But he knew all this was coming, my pack had been preparing for a demon invasion, intensifying combat training and stocking up on weaponry.

The demi-god’s pack had been doing the same, making all young shifters attend a military academy so they’d be ready to fight in case Malek waged war on them. But up until this point, nothing was sure. We could only guess at Malek’s plans. This was horrifying news.

I shot up from my chair and he mirrored my move.

“No! You absolutely can’t do this.” I sliced the air with a flat palm.

“Sunny, this is the price for peace. This world is fractured and broken to its core. I will create a new world, a beautiful and just one. One that is worthy of my bride.” He bellowed like the heavy winds, his expression said that he was firm and certain enough that nothing could dissuade him.

“Wait. You mean this entire time, you were stealing territory after territory, oppressing millions of people for…. for me?!” My voice was shaky and disbelieving as I stabbed my thumb into the center of my chest.

His head slowly bobbed up and down.

“I needed to wait until I had you safe and secure before progressing to all out war. Now that you are here, the true change will begin. I will cure the disease that is killing this world.”

It was like the world had stopped spinning on its axis. And the sky was suddenly down and the floor up.

“No. I don’t want this. I demand you stop,” I shouted.

He chuckled, placing a hand on his belly. “You are my bride but you cannot command me. Not when it comes to the matter of your safety.” He looked at me as if what I’d said was silly and he continued cracking up.

His smile shrank away as he seemed to notice how deeply distressed I was.

“I would set fire to the world around me, but I will never let a flame touch you. I made this promise to you back then and reaffirm it now. I promise you, this is what is best for the world and all who live in it. I have a plan to fix this world, but first I must control it.” He fisted his palm.

“A plan to kill innocent people is no plan I want any part of.” I shoved him in the chest and made for the door.

“Oh, but you are a part of it, Sunny. The most important part.” He captured my waist pinning me to his wall-like chest. He turned me around and he stole my gaze with his fiery one. “One day soon I will make you remember that you love me every bit as much as I do you. Then you and I will rule this new world. We will mold it in the image of our love. And no one will ever have to suffer unnecessarily again.”

He gazed down at me with a hopeful twinkle in his eyes, like he was lost in a dream. A dream that happened to be the nightmare of everyone else on the planet. I wouldn’t join him in his delusions. I couldn’t.

“I could never fall in love with a warmonger.” I grabbed his arm and tried to peel it off, but it wouldn’t move.

“But you will. I know you. No matter how hard you may try, you are powerless to stop your heart from embracing me.” Throwing his silky, long hair back, he shot me a wicked grin, the kind that said he was irresistibly gorgeous, and he knew it well.

He was having fun with me. He actually thought he could seduce me into going along with anything he wanted. He was so used to getting his way that failure wasn’t even a possibility in his mind.

It came to me. Like a lightbulb lighting up in my head. An idea so brilliant it might just save the world. I’d use his confidence and arrogance against him.

“And what if I don’t? What if I don’t fall in love with you?” I asked and his lip curled up with intrigue, his eyes wide and bright.

“I’d give a month, two at the most before you love me,” he said without doubt.

“And what if I don’t fall in love with you after two months? Will you cancel your war plans?”

He went quiet, seeming to mull it over.

“Are you making a deal with me?” his voice dropped an octave and its bassy-ness made goosebumps raise along my arms. The darkness beckoned behind his eyes. I’d stirred something in him, something that touched the darkest part of his nature. All of my instincts screamed at me to not say another word. I’d come here for Malek to grant me revenge against the demi-gods. But I didn’t offer him anything in exchange. It wasn’t a true bargain like this and wasn’t very risky. What I was suggesting now was.

“Yes.” I firmly said. “I want to make a deal.”

His firm body went rigid as a plank as he held me tighter. His heart roared like an engine. Our deal deeply excited him. Something wild and dangerous swirled in his eyes.

What was it with demons and deals? Demons were like gambling addicts unable to resist the thrill of a good game of chance.

“Deal,” he purred, pressing the tip of his index finger to the crest of my shoulder. A black, heart shaped tattoo appeared there, the center of it empty and hollow.

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