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It closed a moment later and the scent of blood hit her like a punch to the gut. She parted her lips to breathe through her mouth instead.
The Demon paused in the doorway, eyes scanning and magic swarming around him like the storm itself. His gaze seemed to run over every inch, taking in the missing dust, the mopped floors, the washed sheets. Then those menacing eyes landed on her.
His lips pulled back in a snarl and Arianna lowered her head to the floor, suddenly wishing she’d moved back to her corner. Maybe this was too much too soon. She should have thought things through.
They all vanish.
Her skin crawled when his magic inched closer, dancing around her as if daring her to challenge him. He almost seemed to want it and the thought reminded her of his warriors. They’d thrown her in here because she had magic. They wanted her to fight.
Arianna might have laughed if not for the fear coursing through her. She’d never felt someone’s magic so palpable before. Like his power could shatter the entire cabin into a million shards with a simple flick of his wrist.
And it likely could.
After another moment, The Demon kicked his boots off and left them in a muddy pile by the door before storming into the bathroom. He slammed the door in his wake and Arianna remained still until she heard the water in the small washbasin slosh. She’d filled it earlier, hoping it’d stay warm. If she could use her magic, she’d have ensured it did.
She knew he’d hear her, so she didn’t bother trying to tiptoe around. Arianna scurried toward his boots and set them by the door, grabbing a towel to dry up the water. She all but ran back to her place beside the fire and grabbed the bowel and spoon she’d retrieved from the kitchen earlier.
A clean home, water waiting, and now food. She hoped these things were enough. Talon had always complimented her cooking, as had most others. She prayed they hadn’t simply been flattering her.
When The Demon emerged, Arianna kept perfectly still. She had her head dipped low, but not enough that she couldn’t see him. He paused briefly then walked around her as if repulsed by her presence and seated himself on the corner of his bed.
He wore the same black pants from last week and nothing else. Water dripped from red hair that hung at eye level as if he hadn’t bothered to dry it and his scent was the same as last time. Sandalwood with a hint of something else.
Though her hands shook, Arianna spooned the stew into a bowl, bowed her head, and raised the meal toward him.
He didn’t move.
Her heart rate spiked, and she risked glancing up at those hard, unyielding eyes. Flames danced within the emerald and his nostrils flared.
Arianna’s throat went dry.
“You first.” His voice was rough. Deep. Demanding. A leader who kept his warriors in line with no tolerance for mistakes.
Arianna lowered the bowl back to her lap and stared at it, trying to piece together why he—poison. Her heart jolted. He thought she’d used poison.
She tried to keep her hands steady, but the attempt was in vain as she picked up the spoon and dipped it into the broth. His anger spiked and the grains of sand that’d been quiet a moment ago sparked to life like wind to a flame.
It slammed into her hand, knocking both bowl and spoon from her grasp. The stew went flying, splattering across the clean wooden floor. She winced, grabbing at her hand where blood now ran down her arm. In one quick movement, he’d sliced the skin open. Her heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her anew and the magic in her blood raged against the cage she’d clamped around it.
She looked at him in horror, finding the monster everyone feared staring back. His lips pulled back, revealing those razor-sharp fangs and Arianna couldn’t reign in her fear this time.
They sat like that. Frozen. Prey caught in the predator’s deadly stare. Arianna opened her mouth to speak, but words wouldn’t come out. She tried again.
“It—I—”
“Pick it up.” She’d never moved so fast in her life. Arianna grabbed the bowl, ignoring the cut on her hand, and scurried back to the fire. She didn’t know how she kept hold of the ladle as she scooped a second helping, but at his tone, it was as though her body had no choice but to obey.
“Eat it.” Arianna raised the bowl to her lips and took a sip. “All of it.” She couldn’t look at him again, but she felt his eyes burning through her as she tried to down the hot liquid as fast as possible. It seared her throat, but she drank every last drop and lowered the bowl to show him.
Again, both sat in silence for a long while. The blood on her hand stopped dripping. His earth grew still. Once her heart slowed a little, Arianna spooned another serving into the bowl and offered it to him again. This time he took it and seemed to study the contents within.
She couldn’t look him in the eye, but The Demon kept his gaze fixated upon her as he took a sip. She could have sworn something like a moan escaped his lips. The tiniest bit of relief flooded through her at that small sound. If cleaning didn’t earn his favor, then maybe her cooking would.
Arianna refilled his bowl twice and she kept her eyes on the floor while he ate. He was careful with every movement, and she took note that their fingers never touched. It gave her some hope that perhaps The Demon wasn’t as interested in her body as much as he was in her ability to fulfill her duties.
Once he’d finished, The Demon set his bowl on the floor and laid back, folding one hand behind his head and the other over his bare chest. He let out a long sigh and Arianna finally looked at him. Her eyes traced over his body, pausing at the pulse in his neck before drifting toward the chiseled muscles of his arms and abdomen.
He was a warrior in every sense, one that, unlike Talon, had, had decades to hone his skills. Even without his magic, he’d obliterate her.
