12. Amaya

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because it"s always a shame when a beautiful but willful woman dies."

I look up at him with wide, fearful eyes as his words penetrate my terrified haze. He stands up from the bed, studying me for a long moment. Then without another word, he turns and leaves. The door shutting and locking behind him is ominous as I am left alone.

"Because it's always a shame when a beautiful, but willful woman dies."

Those words echo around in my mind long after Siderus leaves me lying on the bed, in the room alone with the fire burning brightly. Night has long since darkened the room and still, Siderus is not back.

A part of me hopes he will stay away. But the other part… Oh, the other part of me aches to see him again. To have one more night with him, and for a brief time, let the loneliness and ache be set aside for another day.

I know I should be furious with him for what he did. I am, of course. He took me away from my father and my brother. He used me.

But there's a part of me, I suppose, that still doesn't completely believe it. There's a part of me that still thinks there's something good there in him. I felt it the first night we were together, and sometimes I still do.

I don't even know for sure what he did to my father or my brother. He assures me that they are safe, and I'm inclined to believe him. I think, deep down, he has a good heart.

Or maybe I'm just an idiot who's fallen face first for his charms.

I stand up from the bed, moving to the lone window in the room. I watch the shadows the fire casts along the walls and floor. The only sound in the quiet room is the crackling of the fire and wood. The thought of fire makes me think of Siderus yet again.

I stare at the moon high in the night sky. "Oh, goddess of the moon. Please…" Tears fill my vision, making the white orb look blurry. "Please… help me. Help my family. Please help us…" The levity of everything that happened starts to sink in. I sink down the stone wall as my knees give way, tears running down my face like a river. "Please…" I receive no answers, only the twinkling stars in the dark sky.

* * *

I wakethe next morning to the sun on my face, shining brightly through the large window. I notice I'm in the bed instead of by the window where I fell into an exhausted sleep last night. I shift on the bed, stretching when an iron bar wraps itself around my waist. I still when I realize Siderus is in the bed with me.

I slightly turn my head and see through the veil of my lashes that he is still asleep. His face is surprisingly peaceful. He somehow looks younger in his sleep.

As I become more awake, I see my gown, stockings, and shoes are all laid neatly over one of the chairs by the fire. The fire is now little more than embers. I'm brought from my observations when I feel Siderus stir, bringing me closer to his body.

A shiver goes through me as the warmth of his heated skin seeps into the thin material of my chemise. A part of me wants to lay there in his arms, feel the heat of his skin, the protection of his strong arms around me. But I know I can't, as much as I wish I could.

As if reading my thoughts, a large warm hand reaches up, trailing a path of fire up my body, palming a lush breast. I gasp as his fingers roll my nipple, twisting and flicking til it is hard and aching in his palm. A deep, sleep-roughened voice sounds by my ear, stirring my brown locks as it does. "Good morning."

I find myself lying on my back. Siderus is looming over me, his long hair a dark curtain around us. At this moment, I feel like it is just Siderus and me.

My eyes go wide as I see he is completely nude. My eyes follow the expanse of dark skin above me, the play of muscles gliding under his smooth, dark skin. His muscular arms are braced on either side of me, making us chest-to-chest.

I shudder as the thin material of my chemise rubs against my hard nipples. I see his eyes darken as they rub against his muscular chest. My eyes drift down his chest to the flat, muscled abdomen then to the thick cock jutting between slim hips.

My eyes meet his, watching them darken as his head bends toward mine. I can't help the moan as his lips touch mine, igniting a fire in my belly. His kiss is passionate and addictive. I want more. I need more.

His warm hands brush against my skin as he pushes my chemise up and over my body. He stills to cup my breasts in his hands. I gasp as his thumbs lightly run over the tips, making them harden even more. His hands leave my nipples, continuing to move my chemise up and toward my throat, leaving my body exposed to his hot gaze.

I cry out against his lips when his body presses against mine, feeling him skin to skin. His tongue darts out, tangling with mine, deepening the kiss while his hands move back down to my breasts. I arch into him as his hands flick and roll my nipples into hard peaks, the pleasure almost painful. My hands go to his broad shoulders, roaming over the broad muscular back moving over me.

I shudder as I feel his hard cock press against my inner thigh. A part of me wants him to separate that last little bit of distance and thrust home. To fill me and take the ever-present loneliness away, even for a short time.

The haze of lust dissipates as a pounding at the door finally penetrates our fog. Siderus breaks away with a growl, kneeling above me. He is a glorious sight, his chest heaving, his eyes dark with lust. I feel my arousal increase and my cheeks flush as I catch sight of his thick cock. It is dark and pulsing, and the head is beaded with a thick pearl of pre-cum.

I watch with fascination as another thick drop oozes from his cock head. The pounding at the door jars me from my lusty thoughts. "My lord, you are needed in the Great Hall!"

Siderus glowers at the door. If his power of fire was in his eyes, the door would be burnt wood, and the messenger naught but cinders.

"Leave me!" he roars, his voice more growl than speech. I can hear the male swallow thickly at the rage in Siderus's voice. Siderus regains control of himself, clearing his throat. When he speaks again, his usual control is back in his deep voice. "I will be down shortly."

I hear the messenger squeak. "As you wish, my lord!" Then I hear him sprint down the hall as if the hounds of the afterlife are nipping at his heels.

Siderus moves off the bed, standing as he does. I shiver as the heat from him withdraws from me, leaving me feeling cold and exposed. I tug my chemise back down as he walks to the commode tucked into a corner of the room.

I still when I see the mirror hanging above, his eyes on mine as he pours water into the basin. His gaze lingers on my curves, and a flash of disappointment moves across his face as he sees I am once more covered. Then his expression clears and his face is once more a smooth, dark marble mask.

"You need to clean yourself and dress." He washes himself as he speaks, drawing my attention to his glistening skin. I hate the knowing smirk as he watches me in the mirror.

"This shall be your first test, Amaya. Obey me, and you shall see your brother. But you must show not only me but others that I have your unconditional obedience."

He turns to me, breaking our staring contest in the mirror. "Can you do this? Can you show me complete obedience outside these rooms?"

I tilt my head back to meet his eyes, a feat with his height so great. Can I be obedient? Submissive? While it is true I lived a sheltered life, I'm not so naive as to think I don't know why he asks this of me.

This is about power. Power over me, power over my family. Siderus loves power and wants more. So this is a win for him.

Can I do this for my father? Can I do this for Rafthin? Thinking of my brother and what he has already endured gives me my answer. For my family, I will do almost anything.

I square my shoulders and with confidence I don't feel as I meet his gaze. "Yes, I can be the obedient girl everyone expects outside of this room." I see a flash of victory in his eyes. "But once we are back inside these rooms. I will not be that same girl."

His lips twinge as if suppressing a smile. "I look forward to that challenge, Amaya. I look forward to the challenge, indeed."