Page 73 of The Princess and the Demon

Setting the scroll aside, I lean back in the chair, watching the flames dance in the fireplace.

I can sense the moment the air shifts.

My jaw ticks as barely contained rage roils beneath my skin.

She had some nerve.

“Master, you’re back!” I turn to see Balail’s slender form sashaying across the room towards me, threading her arms around my neck from behind.

I don’t move to touch her.

“I was so worried.” She croons, running her claws along my chest. “I haven’t been able to find Elora anywhere. Did you take her somewhere?”

The pitch of her voice belies her pitiful attempt, and I snap up from my seat.

I turn to face her, my face devoid of emotion.

“I-Is everything ok master?” she asks as she shrinks away from me. Her eyes flicker in fear, and I drink it in as it permeates the room.

“You tell me.” I respond, my voice low and deadly.

Her tongue flicks out to lick her lips, and then she seemingly catches herself and tries to brush it off.

“Ok, ok. Listen, I did you a favor. She was only going to get in your way-.”

My arm snaps out, and I wrap a hand around her throat, collaring her jaw with my thumb and forefinger.

“Do you have any idea what you could have done?”

The demoness cringes, trying to shrink in my grasp. I back her up towards the door, slamming her against it with a hard thud.

“Do you know what you almost cost me?”

Her eyes flicker with fear again, and her fear drives my bloodlust. I squeeze my hand around her throat slowly, watching her eyes widen. She reaches up, clawing at my forearm. The pain only drives me, pleasuring me, feeding my need for blood.

I lower my face to hers, a sneer on my lips.

“I warned you, demon.”

Balail attempts to try to speak, and I loosen my hand just enough for her to squeak out an apology.

“I’m...sorry.” She gasps.

The words do nothing to assuage me.

She’s getting too much air.

I should remedy that.

Balail squeaks out a gasp as I squeeze my hand around her neck. The whites of her eyes begin to turn red with bloodshot. I say nothing, but a second later I transport us, hovering above a giant pit in the ground.

Her eyes dart off to the side, trying to look below us as her fight renews. She starts to claw at my forearm again, drawing blood.

I hiss but don’t loosen my grip on her as I bring my face to within an inch of hers.

“I warned you; I’d throw you back into the fiery depths from which you came.”

The words are growled, and Balail gasps for air, looking up at me. Her eyes are full of pure unadulterated fear.

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