Page 29 of Demon Monster's Little Human

Yet, I can’t stop my eyes from flickering to him, stealing glances, searching for something, anything that betrays even the smallest reaction.

There is none.

Rhogar’s fingers skim my jaw, tilting my chin up, forcing my attention back to him. To the real danger.

His smirk widens as he leans in, his heat pressing too close, too confident. “Your heart is beating too fast, little human.” His claws graze the side of my throat, slow, deliberate. “Should I take that as fear?”

I lift my chin. I refuse to let him see that he’s right.

“I don’t fear you.”

The others chuckle, deep and guttural. A few of them shift, intrigued by the exchange, but Dain does not move.

I see it in my periphery, his jaw tightens, his claws flex slightly against his thigh. But he does not intervene.

Of course, he doesn’t.

Rhogar exhales a low chuckle, his grip on my chin tightening. “Brave. I like that.” He straightens, voice carrying over the fire. “A human with no home, no weapons, no protection.” His smirk turns sharper. “No claims.”

Dain’s head tilts slightly at that, but still, he stays silent.

Rhogar releases me, but only so he can step back, arms spread in mock generosity. “You can stay.”

A kindness laced with sharp teeth.

The gathered gargoyles shift, some murmuring in interest, others looking on in amusement. This is a game to them. I am a game to them.

I force my voice to remain steady. “And what’s the cost?”

Rhogar laughs. He doesn’t even try to hide it.

“The cost,” he murmurs, “is whatever I decide it to be.”

I keep my expression blank,though everything inside me burns. I won’t be caged again. Not by chains, not by hands, not by men or monsters.

I won’t.

Dain is watching. I feel it, even though I refuse to look at him.

But he says nothing.

He doesn’t stop this. Doesn’t move, doesn’t interfere, doesn’t do a godsdamned thing.

Fine.

I step back, voice firm. “No.”

Rhogar’s smirk vanishes. The amusement in his eyes dims, turning into something else, something hungry.

The gathered gargoyles tense.

A refusal is not what they expected.

I pivot on my heel, intending to leave, but I don’t make it far.

Rhogar’s claws snatch my wrist, yanking me back with brutal force. I stumble, colliding against him, his grip tightening like iron.

“No?” His voice is softer now, almost thoughtful. “Where do you think you’re going, little human?”

---