Page 14 of Caged By the Lich

She laughs, the sound bitter and sharp. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? Sorry to disappoint, but I don't know anything about my father's plans. I was too busy being his dirty little human secret."

Her words give me pause. There's pain there, buried beneath the anger. I file that information away for later. "You expect me to believe Ilreth kept you completely in the dark?"

Astrid rolls her eyes. "Believe whatever you want. I'm sure you will anyway."

Dropping my hand, I change tactics, closing in on her like she is my prey. My body certainly thinks she is, wanting to lean over her, crowd her, steal her air until I am the only thing she can have.

"What about his weaknesses?" My voice is rough as it scrapes out. "Surely you've noticed something in all your years under his roof."

She tips her head to stare up at me. I almost believe I have no effect on her, but her muscles are a touch too tense and her eyes are blown wide. "Other than his questionable taste in dinner guests?" Her gaze flicks down my frame with quick insinuation. "I'm afraid not."

Our verbal sparring continues, each barb more pointed than the last. I find myself grudgingly impressed by her quick wit, even as frustration builds within me. She's clever, this human, far more than I'd anticipated.

"You know," Astrid says, her tone deceptively casual, "for someone so feared, you're not very good at this whole interrogation thing."

I bare my teeth in a feral grin. "Perhaps I should resort to more... traditional methods."

She doesn't flinch, meeting my gaze with a fire that sends an unexpected thrill through me. "Go ahead," she challenges. "I'm sure torturing a human girl will do wonders for your reputation."

I lean in close, our faces mere inches apart. "Who said anything about torture? I have far more... creative ways of extracting information."

For the briefest moment, I see a flicker of something in her eyes—something that sets my body on fire.

But then she opens her mouth.

"I'm trembling with anticipation," she deadpans.

I pull back, realizing this approach is getting me nowhere. Maybe having her trembling beneath me would extract more information than this. Though Astrid is more resilient than I'd given her credit for, and I don't think she'd cave even as I edged her, denied her orgasm.

One I'd be desperate to give her.

Snarling — most because of my own wayward thoughts — I bare my teeth at her. She just drags her gaze back to the window.

"Fine." I turn away from her. "We'll occupy your time another way if you don't want to help me."

I storm through the halls of my fortress, my temper simmering just beneath the surface. That infuriating human girl thinks she can outsmart me? We'll see about that.

"Kaz!" I bark, and my second appears at my side instantly. "Bring the girl to the kitchens. Now."

Minutes later, Astrid is standing before me, her chin raised defiantly. I resist the urge to grab her and shake some sense into that pretty head of hers.

"If you don't want to answer my questions, then fine," I growl. "Instead, you'll be making yourself useful around here."

Her eyes narrow. "I'm not your maid."

"No," I agree, a cruel smile twisting my lips. "You're my prisoner. And you'll do as I say."

I assign her a list of tasks, watching with satisfaction as her face pales slightly. Good. Let her see what real work feels like.

But my satisfaction is short-lived. As the day progresses, reports of Astrid's "work" filter back to me, each one stoking my rage further.

First, it's my clothes. I pull on a freshly laundered shirt, only to find it so heavily starched it practically stands up on its own. The collar chafes against my neck, and I can barely move my arms. Furious, I rip it off, the sound of tearing fabric echoing through my chambers.

Next, it's dinner. I take a bite of the roast, only to nearly choke on the overwhelming saltiness. It's practically inedible, and I push the plate away in disgust.

"Bring me the girl," I snarl at a nearby servant.

Astrid appears, her face a mask of innocence. "Is something wrong with your meal, my lord?" she asks, her voice dripping with false concern.

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