“I hoped you’d see it that way,” Malice murmurs, staring down his nose with disgust at the heaving demon lord. “I’ll take him now. As long as you stick to your word.”

Slaine waves him off, still trying to return to normalcy as Malice steps over to Fenryr, keeping his one good eye on me as he unlocks the chains holding him to the wall. A light clanking breaks the silence, punctuated by the occasional whimper as Malice drags Fenryr from the cell.

Just before they step past the threshold, Fenryr’s arm snaps out, and he grips the frame with a powerful clawed hand, unwilling to let Malice take him from me.

“Dagny! Please, I have to be with her!” His voice is heavily distorted due to his muzzle, but the shot of pain that travels down the bond is clearer than anything he could say. So much yearning. A war between urgency and bleak desperation.

It doesn’t matter. The next moment, Malice slams the dungeon door closed, leaving me alone with Slaine. By now, he’s returned to normal, and while I was busy staring after Fenryr, it appears he’s risen to a stand.

As soon as Slaine hears the click of the door, he stalks toward me, stopping a few feet from my slumped frame. His eyes travel over my body, stopping at a few key areas that have a disgusted shiver running down my spine. I hate the way he’s staring, licking his lips like I’m some kind of rare meat. I want him to stop.

“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’ll pluck your eyes from your skull.”

Slaine tips his head back with a hearty chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure you’d love to do just that.” He lowers his face, his malicious smile showcasing each one of his pointed white teeth. “But I am out of your reach, and looking is the only pleasure I’m allowed—so I think I’ll do as I fucking please.” His grin turns sour as he lets out a breath through his nose. “I know what Malice would do if I did more than look… but it is so very tempting,” he murmurs, licking his lips. “I see why they kept you around for so long. Pretty things are so hard to come by in this place. It’s nice to look upon true beauty for once in my life.”

My organs recoil as Slaine leans closer, taking a deep breath of my scent, and the beast beneath my skin rises with a snarl, warning him to back off.

Instead of moving back, Slaine inches closer, a sheen of awe coating his milky white eyes as he inspects the silver ring around my iris. “Who are you?”

His smile widens when I don’t respond. “I guess that’s the wrong question. A better one would be—what are you?”