Page 14 of Demon's Prey

I trace a finger along her jawline, feeling her shiver beneath my touch. The scent of her fear spikes, mingling with something else. Curiosity? Desire? Oh, this is going to be fun.

"I'll give you power beyond your wildest dreams," I continue, voice low and seductive. "Freedom to roam this realm at will. And of course, I'll help you find your precious sister."

Her breath catches. I've struck a nerve.

"But that's not all, is it?" I lean in closer, my lips brushing her ear. "I smell the hatred burning inside you. The pain of loss. You want revenge, don't you?"

She stiffens, but doesn't pull away.

“Revenge doesn’t matter, my sister does.”

“Liar,” I reply.

“Fuck you,” she sputters, but she doesn’t deny it.

I chuckle darkly.

"Oh yes, I can help with vengeance, too. Imagine it, Narina.” I run my gaze up and down her body. “All that power at your fingertips. The ability to make those who wronged you suffer."

Her pulse quickens. I can practically taste her conflicting emotions.

"And all you have to do," I whisper, "is bind your soul to me."

She swallows hard.

"You really don’t want my soul?"

I pull back, meeting her gaze with a smirk.

"Not in the way you're thinking, darling,” I reply. “Think of it as a partnership. You serve me, and I ensure you get everything your heart desires."

My fingers ghost over her cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"I prefer not to use the term 'slavery'. It's so crude. No, this is an exchange. Your loyalty for my power and protection."

I lean in closer, my voice a low purr.

"I know you don't trust me, my sweet. And that you've always resisted the idea of being a slave to anyone. But think about it. I can give you anything you desire."

Her eyes widen at the word 'desire,' a flicker of anticipation dancing in their depths. I suppress a smirk. She's falling into my web, thread by delicate thread.

"I can help you find your sister and the vengeance you so bitterly seek," I continue, my words dripping with honeyed promise. "I'm not offering slavery, little pretty. I'm offering a choice to serve me or not. To find your sister, or not."

The tension in the air is palpable. I can almost taste her indecision, the war raging behind those emerald eyes. She wants what I'm offering - needs it, even. But her pride, her fierce independence, holds her back.

Yet, the hatred burning in her heart, the thirst for revenge - it calls to something primal within me. I want to nurture that darkness, to watch it bloom under my careful guidance.

"And your sister," I add, watching her reaction closely. "Imagine her face when you find her. When you save her from whatever fate has befallen her."

Narina's eyes flash with determination, and I know I've got her. She may not trust me, may even hate me a little, but she needs me. And oh, how I intend to use that need.

"What do you say, little human?" I ask, voice low and tempting. "Are you ready to embrace your destiny?"

I watch as Narina bites her lip, uncertainty and desire warring in her eyes. The sight sends a jolt of heat through me. I step closer, unable to resist her pull.

"What... what do I have to do?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I lean in, my breath ghosting over her ear.

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