Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

H elheim

The Dark King

My sweet, naive little thief.

She was beautiful even as she glared back at me, I couldn't deny that. Her golden eyes met mine with a fiery passion and I found that I couldn't look away. I looked deeper, seeing flecks of metallic bronze and silver within those soulful irises and I licked my lips, cocking my head to the side.

Her stance was one of raw defiance, but I had seen her face when she'd first laid eyes on me. It had been soft, almost like she had been happy to see me.

That was a development, certainly.

My gaze traveled over her delicate features: her high cheekbones, her full lips, and the cascade of dark hair that framed her face. She was a contradiction, a blend of strength and vulnerability, and it intrigued me more than I cared to admit.

I wanted to punish her for her insolence, to remind her of her place in my realm, yet there was a strange desire to take her into my arms and protect her from the same darkness I commanded. It was maddening, this war between the beast within me and the flicker of humanity that she seemed to ignite.

The draw between us was getting stronger. With each passing day, it was growing harder to ignore.

I couldn't let her get to me. I wouldn't allow it. I didn't care about the fact that she was my mate.

"I see that you've found the hidden passageway system," I ventured, and I watched the lump in her throat bob up and down as she swallowed.

"I did," she answered, her voice defiant and bold as ever.

I loved it. It was a long time since someone had stood up against me, and it was refreshing. The centuries had been beginning to grow stale and she was making things exciting again.

"Now that you've found them, it would be useless for me to keep the door locked, so you are free to wander the castle. Do not dare to go beyond the castle gates though. It is not safe," I warned her, and I could see something unidentifiable pass over her face before it disappeared.

Was she planning an escape? Did she really think I was that stupid?

I stood and crossed the room, my footsteps silent against the plush carpet. I loomed over her, my presence casting a shadow across her features.

"Heed my warning, little thief. If you run, I will catch you and you won't like what happens when I do," I continued, and she turned her head, looking away.

"Why are you here?" she said stiffly. She raised her chin, her bravery sending a surge of warmth through me. My cock hardened and I pressed myself even closer to her, pinning her against the wall.

I didn't give her an answer; instead, my lips curled into a grin, and I brushed a loose tendril of hair behind her ear, savoring the shiver of fear that raced down her spine.

She tried to mask her terror, but I could sense it, smell it even. There was something else there, too.

Her arousal.

Interesting.

I leaned forward, my lips grazing her ear.

"Because you're mine, Aria," I growled.

"Am I?" she whispered, and I heard her heartbeat increase, the scent of her growing sweeter.

Oh, this was even more delicious than I could have ever imagined.

"To answer your question, I came to fetch you. You missed breakfast, so you'll be dining with me," I said, my tone light, but I could still sense the tension in her body.

"I'm not hungry," she retorted.

"Nonsense," I replied. "You'll be dining with me either way. And after dinner, I'm going to show you more of Helheim. I want you to see more of your new home," I grinned.

"This is not my home," she scoffed.

"It is now, little thief."

She glared at me, but I could see the curiosity in her eyes. I took a step back. She moved away, crossing the room to put some distance between us.

My gaze flicked to the door when a group of servants knocked. With a nod, I greeted them. Among them was a young woman carrying a magnificent gown I'd had commissioned for Aria especially. The gown was rich and opulent, the deep purple fabric shimmering in the candlelight. It made what she was wearing look like a servant's garb.

"I have a gift for you," I offered, gesturing toward the dress.

"I will put it on later," she said simply, looking between me and the dress, and I shook my head.

"You will put it on for me now," I demanded, but my voice was gentle. She stood still, her gaze flickering between them and me, a mix of defiance and uncertainty in her eyes.

"You will leave the room," she replied in kind, and I shook my head.

"I will not," I countered. The tension between us was truly delectable, and I kept pushing her to see how far she would go.

She glared at me, her eyes narrowing as the servants moved around her. One of them started to unlace her dress and she held her hands in close to her chest, trying to keep it in place, but before long, a young woman with chestnut hair placed a hand on her shoulder.

"My lady," she said softly. "Please let us do our work."

"I'm sorry. Please continue," Aria replied, looking a bit resigned.

They removed the garment from her body, and I felt a jolt of arousal at the sight of her. She was exquisite, her lithe form curvy and lush. Her neckline was long and lean as she held her head up with pride. Her shoulders were strong, pulled back with her defiance. Her breasts were full, her rosy, pink nipples hard as rocks in the cool air of the room. Her stomach was flat, her hips flared, and her legs toned and muscular. Her pretty pink pussy was a bit swollen, enough to where I could see her arousal glistening along her slickened folds in the flickering candlelight.

My cock surged with desire, and I wanted nothing more than to send everyone away and have my way with her right here and now, but I didn't.

Not yet.

I watched as they helped her into the dress, smoothing out the fabric and adjusting the fit. The young woman who had spoken to her earlier gently pulled her hair away from her face, braiding it in a crown atop her head.

As they finished, she looked down at herself, her fingers lightly grazing the delicate lace.

She seemed pleased and my heart warmed.

"Come," I said, taking her arm and leading her toward the door. "Let's dine together. There's so much I want to show you."

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around the room, but then she squared her shoulders and followed me. As we walked through the dark corridors of the castle, I could feel her curiosity growing.

When we reached the dining hall, I guided her to a seat at the long, ornate table.

The servants had laid out a feast, the aroma of the food filling the air. I watched as she eyed the dishes, her hunger evident despite her attempts to hide it.

"Eat," I commanded gently, nodding toward the food. She stared at me for a long moment before she picked up a spoon and tasted the stew that had been placed in front of her.

"This is delicious," she ventured.

"I'm glad. Enjoy it," I offered.

I wasn't sure why I was being so kind to her. It wasn't like me. Perhaps it was her beauty. Perhaps it was the way she looked at me, as if I was a real man and not just a king ruling over her like a subject. Perhaps it was the way she responded to my touch, with a mix of desire and defiance, or perhaps it was just because she was my fated mate.

Mate.

That word had never meant anything to me before, but now it had taken on a new meaning.

I was her mate.

She was mine.

The thought of that stirred something deep within me, something I didn't care to look that far into, so I pushed it away. I didn't speak right away, and neither did she. We ate in comfortable silence, the only sound the scrape of silverware against the plates. She ate her fill, which I was glad to see.

She could stand to gain a few pounds. It was obvious that she'd missed quite a few meals back in Sungard and that made me angry on her behalf. How many days had she gone hungry? How many days had she been in pain?

My mind drifted to the way her eyes lit up at the sight of food and the way she savored each bite, and something in me ached.

I should want to kill her, to take the prophesized power for myself, but right now, all I wanted to do was make her smile.

I cleared my throat.

"Come. It's time I showed you what Helheim is made of."