2. Athena

2

ATHENA

M y heart slams against my ribs as I stumble backward, nearly tripping over a tree root. The xaphan's massive frame towers over me, his light gray wings spread wide enough to block the silver moonlight streaming through the forest canopy. The shadows dance across his sharp features, making him look more predator than angel.

"Please." My voice comes out as a whisper. "I won't - I won't tell anyone I saw you here."

A cruel smile twists his perfect lips, turning his ethereal beauty into something dangerous. His golden eyes gleam with an intensity that pins me in place. Despite his immaculate appearance - the perfectly coiffed golden curls, the pristine clothing - there's nothing gentle about him.

My back hits rough bark. Dead end. The xaphan takes another step closer, and I press myself against the tree trunk until splinters dig through my dress. The air crackles with magic, making the hair on my arms stand up.

"A human." His deep voice carries notes of both curiosity and disgust. "Alone at night. How... convenient."

"I'm not alone." The lie spills from my trembling lips. "My sister?—"

"Don't insult my intelligence." He leans down, bringing his face close to mine. His breath fans warm against my cheek. "You just snuck out of that house. No one knows you are gone. You're just a foolish little human who thought she could wander wherever she pleased."

Tears blur my vision. All my life, I've been protected. Sheltered. And I am sick of feeling so fucking cornered and helpless.

"Let me go." The begging is starting to taste like acid as it scrapes up my throat. "Please, I beg you."

His tan fingers catch my chin, forcing my face up. The touch sends ice through my veins. "Beg harder, little human. Perhaps I'll consider it."

His mocking tone ignites something in my chest, burning away the fear. I wrench my chin from his grasp, my hands balling into fists at my sides.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Heat floods my cheeks. "Playing with your food like some kind of?—"

"Demon?" His perfect lips curve into that cruel smile again. "Wrong species, little human. Though I'm not sure which you'd prefer out here."

I scoff. "I'd much rather face a demon than the likes of you. My father is Ilreth." I lift my chin, channeling Astrid's defiance. "Perhaps you've heard of him?"

The xaphan's golden eyes widen for a fraction of a second before his features settle into cool amusement. He throws his head back and laughs, the sound rich and dark like aged wine. His wings shift, feathers rustling in the night breeze.

"Ilreth's pet?" He circles me, predatory grace in every step. "I'd heard he'd picked up a pair of humans like a couple of strays. Oh, this is delicious." His fingers brush my hair, and I jerk away. "Such fine breeding for an adopted mongrel. The silk dress, the carefully styled curls - someone's put a lot of effort into making you presentable."

"I'm his daughter?—"

"You're his property." He catches a loose ringlet between his fingers. "And quite valuable property at that. I imagine there are plenty who'd pay handsomely for Ilreth's precious little human girl."

My stomach drops. "You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I?" His wings flex, sending shadows dancing across the forest floor. "Your 'father' has made quite a few enemies over the centuries. Think of the bidding war I could start."

"I'm not some trinket to be sold!"

"No?" He leans close again, and this time I smell citrus and metal on his breath. "Then what are you, little human? Because from where I'm standing, you're whatever I decide you are."

As if to prove his point, he reaches for me, picking me up to do what he would like. My nails dig into his forearm as I thrash, but it's like scratching at marble. He drags me toward the garden path, his wing brushing against my back with each step. The feathers feel like silk, a cruel contrast to his iron grip.

"Get off me!" I slam my heel into his shin. The impact jolts up my leg, and he doesn't even flinch.

His laughter rings through the garden, deep and musical. "Such spirit. Most humans would have fainted by now."

My fingers brush something cold - one of father's enchanted garden sculptures. I grab the crystal bird, ignoring the way its edges slice into my palm, and swing it at his perfect face. The sculpture shatters against his jaw in a spray of glittering shards.

His grip loosens for a heartbeat. I wrench away, but his wings sweep forward, creating a barrier of gray feathers. He catches me around the waist, lifting me off my feet.

"Careful now." His breath tickles my ear. "We wouldn't want to damage that pretty face of yours."

"Let me go!" I drive my elbow back, aiming for his throat. He catches it easily, twisting my arm behind my back until tears spring to my eyes.

"I do love when they fight." His free hand traces my jaw, and I snap at his fingers. "Such fire. The nobles will pay a fortune for you."

Terror claws at my chest, but anger burns hotter. I'm not some helpless child anymore, not the fragile sister everyone needs to protect. I throw my head back, feeling the crunch as my skull connects with his nose. Warm droplets splash against my neck - blood.

His grip tightens until I can barely breathe. "That," he growls, "was extremely unwise."

I kick and thrash, but his strength is overwhelming. My struggles only seem to amuse him more, his laughter mixing with my desperate gasps for air.

"Father will kill you for this," I spit.

"Your demon lord can try." His wings fold around us like a feathered cage. "But first, he'll have to find you."

I thrash in his iron grip, my skirts tangling around my legs as he lifts me higher. His laughter rings in my ears, deep and musical, a sound that should be beautiful but only makes my skin crawl. My fingers scrabble against his forearms, searching for any weakness, but his skin feels like polished stone beneath my nails.

"Such a delicate little thing." His breath stirs my hair. "Yet you fight like a trapped wild animal."

I try to wrench away, but his wings sweep forward, creating a wall of gray feathers that blocks my escape. He catches me around the waist, lifting me off my feet as if I weigh nothing.

"Is this how you treat all your guests?" His amusement only fuels my rage. "Such poor manners."

"You aren't a damned guest." I drive my elbow back, aiming for his throat. He catches it easily, twisting my arm behind my back until tears spring to my eyes.

His free hand traces my jaw, and I snap at his fingers like a cornered animal. Everyone's always seen me as the gentle sister, the healer, the one who needs protection. But they're wrong. I can fight too.

"You are only making me want you more." His wings fold closer, feathers brushing against my arms in a mockery of a caress. "For a human, you are quite interesting. The question remains what I should do with you."

Terror claws at my chest, but anger burns hotter. It's the only thing keeping me going, potentially the only thing keeping me alive.

I kick and thrash, but his strength is overwhelming. My struggles only seem to amuse him more, his laughter mixing with my desperate gasps for air. The sound echoes through the garden, turning my blood to ice even as rage makes my cheeks burn.

He yanks me flush against his chest, one arm like an iron band around my waist while his other hand tangles in my honey-blonde curls, wrenching my head back. His perfect lips brush against my ear, sending revulsion crawling down my spine.

"Such spirit." His words drip like poison honey. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you."

My heart pounds against my ribs, each beat a desperate reminder that I'm alive—for now. The citrus-metal scent of him fills my lungs with every panicked breath. His wings create a cocoon around us, the soft gray feathers a deceptively gentle prison.

Fear claws up my throat, threatening to choke me. But beneath it burns anger—at him, at myself, at everyone who's ever treated me like delicate glass that needs protecting. Now I'm living their worst fears, proving them right, and the thought makes bile rise in my throat.

Father won't notice I'm missing for hours. He's locked away in his study, as always and thinks I'm safely trapped inside. Astrid's now with her demon mate, and the servants won't notice. I'd snuck out to the garden specifically because I knew no one would look for me - a decision I now bitterly regret.

The xaphan's fingers trace down my neck, and I suppress a shudder. His touch feels like ice trailing across my skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

When he speaks again, his lips brush against my ear. "Your fear is intoxicating, little human. But don't worry - I'll teach you to enjoy your new life. Eventually."

My stomach turns at the promise in his words. I try to wrench away, but his grip only tightens until breathing becomes difficult. Spots dance at the edges of my vision as I claw at his arm, my nails leaving useless scratches on his perfect skin.

But I don't think there is any getting out of this.