Page 21 of Demon's Prey

When she finally pulls her hand away, there’s a brief moment of awkward tension. She looks around, clearly uncomfortable with the attention of the onlookers.

I decide to break the tension, grabbing her hand again, my grip firm but not forceful.

“Come,” I say, "walk with me."

She frowns, pulling back slightly.

“I don’t have time for a walk,” she says. “Save your dime store Lothario act for someone who gives a damn. I need to find my sister.”

I smile, feeling mischievous. Dime store lothario? Oh, my dear, you have yet to experience anything yet.

“You’ll find her soon enough,” I say. “But first, we walk.”

Narina hesitates for a moment, but eventually relents, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. She allows me to lead her through the hallways of the mansion.

“Where are we going?” she asks, her voice tight with impatience. “I’m getting tired of these games.”

“Somewhere more private,” I reply, my thumb brushing against her hand. Her skin is soft, a stark contrast to the rough calluses on my own. “You’ve got a lot to learn, little one. And I can’t have you whipping every dark elf you come across.”

She scoffs.

“They deserved it,” she says. “That, and a lot worse.”

“Maybe,” I concede, “but there’s a time and place for everything. You can’t just lash out whenever you feel like it.”

Narina falls silent, her brow furrowed in thought. I can see the wheels turning in her head, the struggle between her desire for revenge and the practicality of my words.

I lead Narina through the winding corridors of my mansion, feeling her tense presence beside me. The silence between us is thick with unspoken thoughts and barely contained impatience. I decide to break it, hoping to distract her from her single-minded focus.

"You know, life as a demon lord isn't as exotic as you might imagine," I begin, watching her reaction from the corner of my eye. "Endless meetings, tedious paperwork, backstabbing politics. It's enough to drive a demon mad."

Narina's eyes glaze over, clearly uninterested in the intricacies of demon bureaucracy. I can't blame her. It bores me to tears too.

"But that's not the worst of it," I continue, changing tack. "It's the suffocating expectations, the constant pressure to conform. Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped in a gilded cage."

At this, her eyes narrow, a flicker of interest crossing her face. I've struck a chord.

"Freedom's what I crave," I admit, surprising myself with my honesty. "To break free from these rigid structures, to explore beyond the boundaries set for us."

Narina's gaze meets mine, a spark of understanding passing between us. For a moment, I feel a connection, a shared longing for something more.

But it's fleeting. Her eyes soon cloud over again, her mind clearly drifting back to her sister and her quest for vengeance.

"Fascinating," she mutters, her tone flat and disinterested.

I can't help but smirk at her poor attempt at politeness. Her impatience is palpable, radiating off her in waves. Yet, I find myself oddly charmed by her directness, her unwavering focus.

"You're not much for the pleasures of conversation, are you?" I tease, hoping to draw her out.

"No," she replies curtly, her gaze fixed ahead. “Not with demons who are lusting after me.”

Her eyes widne, and sweat beads at her brow.

“My soul,” she blurts. “Lusting after my soul.”

I chuckle, both amused and intrigued by her faux pas. This human continues to surprise me at every turn.

I decide to change tactics, realizing that my attempts at small talk aren't getting me anywhere with Narina. Her sister seems to be the key to unlocking her, so I pivot our conversation in that direction.

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