Chapter 3

LUNA

They might as well have wrapped her with a bow like a fucking Yule present. I stood on the balcony attached to my chamber and stared down at the street below. The limo was flashy. A middle-aged man in an expensive suit had exited the car and my so-called gift had followed. She wore a dress that did nothing to hide the ample roundness of her body. Even from stories above her, I could sense and smell her discomfort. Was she even warned about who she'd belong to? It didn't matter, she wouldn't be with me long. Simply long enough for me to have my bit of fun and then I'd do away with her as soon as I grew bored.

I sent Gailie down to fetch the girl as I spent moments debating whether to meet her as my true form or ease her into a false sense of security. No, I wanted her fear from second one. I had more important things to attend to later that night. I turned away from the sight below as I saw Gailie flitter about the woman's head. The smile that curved the woman's plump red stained lips made me frown.

Entering my room, I dressed in my usual leather pants and black shirt that was tailored to allow for the bones exposed along my spine, and for the leathery tail that swished behind me in annoyance. I swirled my tongue along the edge of my sharp teeth and the longer fangs. As I stood there waiting for Gailie and the female to arrive, the sweet scents of vanilla and sandalwood grew in intensity. My nose snarled and nostrils flared searching for something under the scents of her perfume or lotion. There was fear–discomfort. Emotions were easy for me. Everyone gave off their own scent. Fear was bitter and sweet, but I didn't sense that at all.

Gailie was small, cute as pixies normally were. They were built to be little rays of sunshine. Spreading glittery dust in their wake. Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to send her to collect the sacrifice. The click of heels on wood steps drew closer. I laced my fingers at the small of my back. The ends of my claws pricked my thick, gray skin. Smoke escaped from the part in my lips as I hissed when the door opened without a knock.

When the female entered, she held a small suitcase in a white-knuckled grip. I smirked as the terror leached out. Her jade green gaze swept my room with its dark furniture and crimson fabrics. Old fashioned candles dimly lit the space. As I could exist in total darkness, light was a waste. I stepped forward, and chuckled darkly as the suitcase fell from her hands.

"Mistress, Ivory Weatherby, Ivory, meet Luna." Gailie politely made the introductions even as Ivory looked everywhere but at me.

"Leave us," I ordered and the female flinched.

Gailie didn't hesitate to escape. She rarely liked to see what I did with the women she gave me. I slowly stalked closer. She tensed more and more, the less space that existed between us.

"Was it explained to you what you were to do for me?" I asked, my voice taking on that raspy, hissing quality that it had in my true form.

"I-I was told to do whatever you asked."

She had the sweetest voice, lilting and pure. It was a voice that screamed innocence. Yet there was also a crackling as if she didn't speak often. The princess in her tower didn't get out much. My rare curiosity hadn't urged me to search her out.

"Did you have any say in that?" I asked.

My instinct told me she wasn't warned about her purpose.

"No, I was simply ordered before breakfast that I'd be coming to my new home."

"Home," I snorted. "Why do you think you'll survive the night?"

"I don't."

She seemed resigned to her fate.

"And why is that?" I inquired.

"My father passed his burden on to you. I've heard you're merciless."

"There's no truer statement than that. So, princess, are you going to be a good girl?"

"Wh-what does that mean?"

As I took several steps forward, she retreated until her back met the door. I growled as the sweet scent of her fear increased. When I was within touching distance, I stretched out my arm and drew a single claw down the front of her throat. Such perfect skin, flawless and would be so pretty wearing my marks. Maybe I'd keep her for more than a few hours. Slowly break her–savor it.

"You were ordered to do as I said. How far are you willing to go?"

"I was told to do whatever to keep you distracted."

Her honesty was shocking. I slipped the claw on my index finger under the miniscule silk that covered heavy breasts. Teased just the edge of a large nipple that showed clearly through the fabric. I dropped my arm to my side and moved in close to absorb the warmth of her smooth skin. Her rounded belly conformed to the flat plane of mine. The beautiful human was lush where my usual toys were thin and conventionally attractive.

"Are you supposed to sacrifice yourself so the city can sleep peacefully?"

"Yes. For a moment as I packed my things, I thought my father had married me off. Maybe I'd have someone who wanted my presence… someone who wouldn't view me as a burden. That isn't what happened. Once I saw the part of the city I entered, I resigned myself to death being more merciful."

"There are some things worse than death. I'm more than capable of making you wish for that precious death you've already submitted to."

Her panting breaths warmed my chest as I stared down at the top of her head. Little wisps of hair tickled my pointed chin.

"You're not going to honor whatever deal you made with my father?" she asked as she peeked up at me from under her darkened lashes.

"There was no deal." She jerked her head up at my answer. "The humans of the Paralese City Council live by some old-fashioned beliefs that sacrificing a virgin to the demons changes our natures. It doesn't. They sent you to me in hopes something pretty would distract me. That's not how it works."

"What are you going to do with me then?" she asked as a sob slipped free.

"I'm going to play with you until I become bored."

"Wh-when is that?"

"That depends on you. How long can I toy with you before you break? I don't see you as a challenge. Sheltered and spoiled princesses are the weakest I've found." Stepping back, I gave her room to breathe. "Have you always lived in your tower?"

I watched her throat work as she swallowed hard. "Since my mother's death. Father locked me away to keep me safe. Then I believe he forgot about me outside my basic needs. My maid attended to me. Father rarely came to inquire if I needed anything."

"Were you at fault for your mother's death?"

"No! I was only a child. I assume she became ill. He never told me what really happened."

"You can unpack your things." I motioned to a wardrobe and a dresser hidden in the gloom at the edges of my large room.

The one thing I couldn't stand was enclosed spaces. When there were no walls, an enemy couldn't hide. Yet I couldn't see the human possessing any defenses against me. Soft and weak, kept safe in a tower, and locked away with all her needs provided for. I was curious about why her father would go to such desperate measures. Of course, I was sure parents could be protective of their female offspring, especially beautiful ones.

I'd admit, even if just to myself, that I found the human alluring. Sex wasn't something I craved; torturing a toy was enough for me. I wondered if she'd ever been touched. Did she exist in her tower pleasuring herself when no one was around? Hiding under her covers to feet something other than isolation and loneliness? There were many ways I could break her. Luring her into feeling safe with me, meeting all her needs. Then when the princess least expected it, have her experience pain she'd never imagined.

"I don't trust you," she admitted as she took a few steps to pick up her suitcase.

"Then you're a very smart princess. Demons aren't to be trusted. I almost shifted to a form more pleasing, but I hate to embrace any semblance of humanity."

"Are you going to give everyone nightmares tonight?"

"What would you give me to skip one night?" I asked, intrigued to see how far she'd go.

"What would you want?" She watched me from the corner of her eye as she searched the darkness for the dresser and all.

Snapping my fingers, I turned on the lights to flood the space. But I slinked back into the shadows to hide from the brightness.

"Has anyone ever touched you before? Touched that pretty, innocent cunt? I bet you've never even been kissed."

Her spine straightened and her face turned the prettiest shade of pink with embarrassment. As much as I wanted her fear, I wanted to ruin her more. "Today was the first time I left my room in over a decade."

That surprised me and struck me as rare. Teenagers were notorious for rebellion. Sneaking out to defy their parents. How had they kept her locked up for so long and she just let it happen?

"And you were just the good, little princess staying inside your tower? No one on your father's staff sniffing around?"

"N-no."

I sent an order to Gailie through our link for her to send food and wine for the princess. I clearly sensed the pixie's shock at me not summoning her to rid my quarters of the human's body. So was I because I wanted to know why she'd submitted so easily to her fate in the tower. How long would she have stayed there if she hadn't been promised to a demon?

"So, what are you willing to give me?"

She kept her back to me as she shifted things around in the drawers as she emptied the minimal contents of her suitcase. Her father had expected me to do away with her because she hadn't been allowed much when she packed. I'd seen unimaginable cruelty in my time, doled out my share too, but what caused a father to cast aside his daughter so easily? He'd spent so much time protecting her just to send her into certain death, or what he assumed would be his daughter's demise.

"I-I don't know, what do you want?" she asked as she set a picture on top of the dresser.

"You may not want to know what I want… What I could do to you."

"But it's easier to ask what you want."

I smirked as I snapped my fingers and plunged the room back into darkness. Let's see how much she'd be willing to sacrifice to obey her father's orders. I wouldn't let anyone rest comfortably; that's not what my kind did. Yet for one night, I may let the city think they won. Only to increase my punishment the next night.

"Go stand at the foot of my bed, shift your feet apart and lift your skirt to your waist."

I chuckled as she opened her mouth. I saw the need to argue, but her teeth clicked together as she cut herself off. I wanted her to fight. The princess would lose, but I wanted her to push back. Soon I'd chase her through my home, down corridors to hunt her until I took overtook like the prey she was. Until then I wanted to see her. What did she hide under that gown she didn't like? Did she wear innocent panties at odds with the sexiness of her outer appearance? Ivory had been dressed to lure me to my ruin, as if that hadn't happened many times over my existence.

The scent of her discomfort filled the room and it sang in my blood as I imagined how much her pain and terror would turn me on later. For the first time in my existence I wanted to dirty a woman up, to see how much pleasure she could take. I should be horrified by the impulse. The women who I took were to feed my sadistic nature.

I wanted to hurt her, but that wasn't the only thing I craved.

An untouched princess awaited me; she assumed I was going to hurt her. The shame of a creature like me giving her pleasure, stoking desire she'd probably never experienced before.

She awkwardly shifted her stiletto-clad feet apart where she stood in front of my massive bed. Her slender fingers fisted in the silk over her thighs. The quickened respirations made me smirk.

"I believe I gave you an order. Isn't one night of obeying me worth sweet dreams for an entire city?" I asked as I slowly closed the distance between us.

Fire sizzled through my veins. My nostrils flared as I scented her embarrassment about exposing herself to me. I watched the war play out in her expressive green eyes. She was too innocent to conceal her emotions. She wound the silk of her dress in her shaking hands as she eased it up to expose shapely calves. Next were cute dimpled knees. I growled as ample thighs were revealed, candlelight shimmered off the pale hairs that covered the curves.

A vision of my teeth marks in her thighs filled my head. My once dormant heart picked up in my chest and I didn't like it, but ignored it. The juncture of her legs was exposed, even with her feet apart there was no gap between those legs. And then I saw it, innocent, white cotton panties. The cushion of pubic hair showed clearly beneath the fabric. All the other women I'd had in my quarters had been shaved bare or trimmed close to their mound.

"Have you ever shown yourself to someone before?" I asked, but knew the answer.

She stopped with the skirt exposing her rounded lower roll of her belly. I stopped in front of her, hooked the claws of my left hand in the tops of her panties. The sharp nails tangled in her thick curls.

"I believe I asked you a question, princess."

"No, no one has ever–" She stopped speaking as she stared at me through big, shocked eyes as I tugged at her curls.

With a hard tug, my claws shredded her panties, the ruined remnants fluttered to the floor, and I dropped my gaze. Honey colored curls formed a perfect triangle, and I followed a thin strip of translucent hair that reached her belly button.

"Such a good, obedient princess, but I don't think this is enough to keep me from my work tonight," I stated in a growly voice as I tweaked her pubes.

Her sweet scent drifted up to my nostrils, the vanilla and sandalwood stronger with her exposed. I teased her with the tips of my claws combing through her curls, up and down, and back up. She gasped as my index and middle claws drew along her plump slit. Everything about her was lush.

"I think you should offer me a kiss," I said, but didn't mention which lips I wanted to brush my mouth to.

"Just a kiss?" she asked.

"Just one, little kiss, princess." And when she leaned in and up to brush her lips to mine, I dropped to my knees. "I didn't say which lips I wanted to kiss, princess." I didn't give her any warning before I buried my face between her legs.