6. Dazirus

6

DAZIRUS

I circle Narina, my eyes drinking in every detail. Her scent - fear, determination, and something uniquely human - intoxicates me. Fascinating creature.

"A contract," I intone, watching her reaction. "Nothing comes free in this realm, little human."

Her eyes flash. Defiance. Desperation. Delicious.

"Yes, so you’ve said. But You’ve been kind of sketchy on terms, Lord Dazirus.”

“Oh please, let’s not be so formal. You may call me Dazirus.”

“Um, okay. So, what’s the deal? Do you want my…” her voice trails off, and she licks her lips.

Narina struggles to speak for several seconds. I wait patiently, like a noiseless spider.

“Do you want my s-soul?" she asks, voice trembling.

I smirk.

"Oh, I don’t think we need to agree to a contract with such extreme terms."

She blanches. Good. Let her squirm.

Circling closer, I drink in her tension. She's coiled tight, ready to spring. But where? To fight? To flee? Oh, the possibilities.

"I'll help you find your sister," I offer, voice silky smooth. "In exchange for... your service."

Her brow furrows. Confusion. Suspicion. Smart girl.

"Service?" she echoes. I can see it in her eyes. “Service can mean a lot of different things.”

I nod, savoring the moment.

"Indeed. You intrigue me, Narina. I want to see what you're capable of."

She swallows hard. I can almost taste her internal struggle.

“What do you mean, what I’m capable of?” she asks.

“Just what it sounds like,” I reply.

Her lips twist into a fronw.

“And if I refuse?"

I shrug, feigning indifference.

"Then you're free to go. Good luck surviving out there, or finding your sister without my help. Then again, you are a resourceful one. Perhaps you’ll survive two, three days. Perhaps even a week."

Her eyes dart to the window, to the harsh landscape beyond. She knows she has no chance alone.

I lean in close, my breath ghosting her ear.

"Think carefully, little human. How badly do you want to find your sister?"

Her scent washes over me, a heady mix of fear and determination. It's intoxicating, stirring something primal within me. I fight the urge to pull her close, to claim those trembling lips with a searing kiss.

What's wrong with me? I'm a demon noble. I should want what improves my station, not what appeals to my heart, my soul.

My gaze roams over her, drinking in every detail. The curve of her neck, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. A vision flashes through my mind - her naked form writhing beneath me, eyes clouded with pleasure, my name on her lips.

Heat surges through me. I can't remember the last time I felt this... tempted.

My smile sharpens, an edge of hunger creeping in. Narina shivers, and the sight sends another jolt of desire through me. Does she sense the effect she has on me? The power she holds?

I lean closer, voice low and husky.

"Well, little human? What's your answer?"

She meets my gaze, defiant despite her fear. It only stokes the fire within me. I want to break that defiance, to make her submit... and then build her back up, stronger than before.

"I..." she starts, then falters.

I trail a finger along her jaw, relishing her sharp intake of breath.

"Choose wisely, Narina. I can be a powerful ally. I can make sure you get… everything you want.”

The air between us crackles with tension. I can almost taste her indecision on my tongue.

Her eyes widen, a delicious mix of fear and intrigue dancing in their depths. I can't help but savor the moment, drinking in her reaction.

"A soul-bound contract," I purr, letting the words roll off my tongue. "It's not as dire as it sounds, little human."

“S-soul bound?” she says with a heavy tremble. “There’s that word again. I thought you didn’t want my soul?”

“Never said I didn’t want it,” I reply quickly “But it’s not included in the terms of this propose dcontract. Tell me, are you familiar with the human term collateral?”

“Yes,’ she says cautiously.

“Well, you can think of your soul as collateral on this contract. That’s all. You won’t be forfeit your soul once the terms of the contract are fulfilled.”

I trace a finger along her jawline, feeling her shiver beneath my touch. The scent of her fear spikes, mingling with something else. Curiosity? Desire? Oh, this is going to be fun.

"I'll give you power beyond your wildest dreams," I continue, voice low and seductive. "Freedom to roam this realm at will. And of course, I'll help you find your precious sister."

Her breath catches. I've struck a nerve.

"But that's not all, is it?" I lean in closer, my lips brushing her ear. "I smell the hatred burning inside you. The pain of loss. You want revenge, don't you?"

She stiffens, but doesn't pull away.

“Revenge doesn’t matter, my sister does.”

“Liar,” I reply.

“Fuck you,” she sputters, but she doesn’t deny it.

I chuckle darkly.

"Oh yes, I can help with vengeance, too. Imagine it, Narina.” I run my gaze up and down her body. “All that power at your fingertips. The ability to make those who wronged you suffer."

Her pulse quickens. I can practically taste her conflicting emotions.

"And all you have to do," I whisper, "is bind your soul to me."

She swallows hard.

"You really don’t want my soul?"

I pull back, meeting her gaze with a smirk.

"Not in the way you're thinking, darling,” I reply. “Think of it as a partnership. You serve me, and I ensure you get everything your heart desires."

My fingers ghost over her cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"I prefer not to use the term 'slavery'. It's so crude. No, this is an exchange. Your loyalty for my power and protection."

I lean in closer, my voice a low purr.

"I know you don't trust me, my sweet. And that you've always resisted the idea of being a slave to anyone. But think about it. I can give you anything you desire."

Her eyes widen at the word 'desire,' a flicker of anticipation dancing in their depths. I suppress a smirk. She's falling into my web, thread by delicate thread.

"I can help you find your sister and the vengeance you so bitterly seek," I continue, my words dripping with honeyed promise. "I'm not offering slavery, little pretty. I'm offering a choice to serve me or not. To find your sister, or not."

The tension in the air is palpable. I can almost taste her indecision, the war raging behind those emerald eyes. She wants what I'm offering - needs it, even. But her pride, her fierce independence, holds her back.

Yet, the hatred burning in her heart, the thirst for revenge - it calls to something primal within me. I want to nurture that darkness, to watch it bloom under my careful guidance.

"And your sister," I add, watching her reaction closely. "Imagine her face when you find her. When you save her from whatever fate has befallen her."

Narina's eyes flash with determination, and I know I've got her. She may not trust me, may even hate me a little, but she needs me. And oh, how I intend to use that need.

"What do you say, little human?" I ask, voice low and tempting. "Are you ready to embrace your destiny?"

I watch as Narina bites her lip, uncertainty and desire warring in her eyes. The sight sends a jolt of heat through me. I step closer, unable to resist her pull.

"What... what do I have to do?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I lean in, my breath ghosting over her ear.

"You just need to agree. And then everything will become clear."

I don't wait for her answer. The tension between us is too much, a live wire ready to spark. I close the distance, my lips brushing hers.

The moment our mouths meet, electricity ignites between us. I kiss her torridly, pouring all my pent-up desire into the contact. Her lips are soft, yielding, and I can't get enough.

I feel her tension, her hesitation. But underneath it all, there's a current of desire that matches my own. It fuels me, drives me to deepen the kiss.

My hands find her waist, pulling her closer. She's warm and alive against me, her heartbeat a frantic rhythm I can feel through her skin.

I nip at her bottom lip, eliciting a soft gasp. The sound sends a shiver down my spine. I want more, want to hear every sound she can make.

But I hold back, reining in my desire. This isn't just about lust. It's about power, about binding her to me in ways she doesn't yet understand.

I break the kiss, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. Her eyes are wide, pupils dilated with desire. Her breath comes in short pants, matching my own.