Page 87 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

Gabriel slowly walked up to me, and I stood back up on shaky legs, not wanting to be in such a vulnerable position. “Devoruh said you were making a run for it, and I didn’t want to believe her. I thought there was no way a human female, MY human female, would be stupid enough to try to make it out in Tironaill on her own with a youngling. But here you are.” Gabriel’s voice had an edge of anger, though he was staying controlled.

I narrowed my eyes and balled my fists. “You’re a monster. I know your plan! I heard you and Alec talking about taking over Edenalee and wanting human women to breed with. You’re disgusting! I will never let you have my body. I am not a womb for your heirs!” I yelled.

Gabriel cocked his head and smiled. “The takeover has already begun, my darling. It has been for a long time. You should be grateful that I chose you to bear my younglings. The rest of the fertile human females will get thrown to whichever angheal is the highest bidder. Trust me when I say, as bad as you think I am, there are far worse.”

I turned to Cora, who had exhausted herself and stopped struggling. Her eyes held so much pain and fear. I swallowed.

Gabriel gently grabbed my chin and turned my head to look at him. “I was willing to make your transition here pleasant, and tried to help you see how much better you would have it here with me, living in a castle instead of some hovel of a home in Edenalee. But now you have gone and made everything more difficult. Such a shame.” He kept his face impassive as he shook his head. “And Rory?” He mocked as he took a step closer to me, lowering his mouth to my rounded ear. “You don’t get a choice in what I do with your body.” He stood straight up. “For instance, Rory, undress.”

I loosened the laces of my tunic, exposing the tops of my breasts.

“Rory, stop undressing.”

My fingers stopped untying, and I stilled, my breath hitching.

Gabriel assessed my face. “You see, my darling, I have an enchant most don’t know about. My greatest divine gift. I’m a compeller. I can make anyone do anything I want. You were a little challenging at first, I’ll give you that. I was surprised at how much force I had to use with my enchant. Pretty strong-willed for a female.”

My chest heaved.

“So, Aurora, either you learn to coexist with me willingly and live a life of luxury and wealth, or you can be thrown in a small room and taken out only when I have use for you.” He tapped his temple twice with his index finger. “Think on it.”

The rage I had been holding back for so long coursed through my veins. My jaw tensed, and I ground my teeth. WHACK! My fist connected with Gabriel’s nose, and he drew back, eyes wide and hands covering his face. A trickle of blood dripped from his nostril, and I smirked even when Devoruh grabbed my hair again and yanked my head backwards.

Gabriel clasped one hand around my jaw, stepping into me and putting his bloodied face by my ear. “You little bitch,” he whispered so Cora couldn’t hear him. “You’ll be lucky if you get to see Cora ever again.” My amusement vanished, and I drew in a breath. “Don’t worry. We will raise her to not be such a fucking tease and teach her how to be a good little noble. Submissive, like girls should be. She will be perfect for Prince Percie.”

I struggled in Devoruh’s grasp at the thought of Cora being groomed to be nothing more than a noble match for royalty.

Gabriel smiled at the fear plastered on my face. “Take the youngling back to the castle. Lock her in her room.”

Cora let out a sob, and Alec held her tight while she fought to get to me.

“NO! Gabriel! I’m sorry! Please don’t take her from me!” I pleaded. Begged. My voice was on the verge of screaming.

Cora’s wails became more distant as Alec picked her up and carried her back toward the castle.

Gabriel stood with his hands behind his back. “I’m afraid the time for bargaining and pleading has passed, Aurora. But no worries, you’re still mine. I love a good challenge. You just need to be broken like a spirited horse. By then, you’ll be begging me to ride you like one. It’ll be the best you have ever had.” He grinned with venom. So wide I could practically see every single one of his perfect teeth. “You’ve already had a little taste of how wet I can make you.”

“Fuck you!”

Gabriel snickered. “You will be doing just that. A lot. You just need time to come to terms with everything.”

My focus moved away from Gabriel’s mocking threats to the dark figure who stepped out from the shadows behind Gabriel. My heart fluttered. Darkened eyes met mine. A mere sliver of chestnut brown remained. His muscles in his neck pulled taut.

Gabriel turned as my eyes shifted behind him. “Ah, Captain. Surprisingly, just who I wanted to see. Take Aurora down to the cells and lock her in there. She is to stay there until she can be reasoned with and is less…violent,” he fumed while wiping the blood from his upper lip.

Darragh tracked his movements and then stared back at me. I felt a tug on the invisible string.

Devoruh leaned close to my ear, her hand wrapped around my hair and her arm around my neck. Her voice was a low taunt in my ear. “You didn’t think Queen Mollah would leave you without being constantly watched, did you?

“I should’ve known she would be a bitch and have me followed,” I spat.

Devoruh pushed me into Darragh, tumbling me forward. He caught me in his steady arms. I looked up into those rich eyes, pleading with him to help.

“They took Cora from me!” I sobbed into his chest.

The muscles of his arms tightened around my waist, and I desperately clung to his tunic. Darragh picked me up with a jolt and hoisted me over his shoulder as I yelped. His arm locked around my waist.

What is he doing?